Category: parenthood

Crossdressing Wabbits and Cartoon Physics

The Young Extroverted One received her latest disc from Netflix yesterday. It was The Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 1, Disc 1 and it was as funny to me now as it was to me when I was a kid. Luckily for me it was funny for her too.

I have always wondered if the old cartoons can make a youngin’ laugh now and they do.  Sure, there were some things that they wouldn’t put in a cartoon nowadays but I think it was way over YEO’s head.  Plus, I think I turned out alright after watching all of those cartoons as a kid.  Right?

**UPDATED: Peter Rabbit vs. Jesus Christ*

*But not that vampire hunter version. That wouldn’t be fair for that poor rabbit.

The other day the crew (Young Extroverted One, Elder Extroverted Holy One and I) went to the 12th South Taproom to attend the CD release party of Leslie McClure. We got there a little too early but we sort of planned to eat before the show. After finishing our meal the YEO started to get restless and began singing Easter songs which mostly consisted of bunnies and stuff.

While we aren’t freaky and fundamental about it we do try to be intentional about the Christian holidays. So, EEHO brought up that we also, and mostly, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at this time of year. “So, why don’t we sing songs about Jesus instead of Easter?”** thus spake the YEO. Because in her mind Easter is the candy and bunnies and chicks and that annoying fake grass you put in baskets.

It’s kind of difficult to keep a balance between the secular, commercial side of holidays and the other religious side. For Pete’s sake (ya like that don’t ya?), the YEO is a potential preacher’s kid. She shouldn’t go through life just celebrating the Roman-pagan holidays. I think she needs to see both sides of the festivities (while not demanding the double-up of goodies).

Not only do we like to be religiously appropriate but also historically appropriate. It’ll make for a nice clash of ideals for teachers/authoritarian figures to deal with later. Maybe we’ll send her to a private Christian academy of some sort in Kansas.

**UPDATE: Apparently, my recollections of the YEO’s quote were clouded by the many Highland Brewing Company’s Gaelic Ales that I consumed. I suppose the EEHO should be my editor before I publish my posts. But that would take way too long.

The Young Extroverted One actually said, “Why would we sing songs about Jesus at Easter?” I apologize for my misquoting of the YEO lest she sue me for libel.

The Joys of Cooking, Baking and Shaving Dogs

I made the realization the other day, as I was preparing a grilled shrimp over black bean and corn salad for the farm adventure, that I really miss cooking and baking.  The Elder Extroverted Holy One and I used to cook a lot before the Young Extroverted One made herself known.  When we were doing the vegetarian thing (up until the polish sausage incident during pregnancy) we made some extravagant meals.  Heck, I used to bake bread every week!

I’m not blaming the YEO for our lack of homecooked meals.  It’s just that now the dynamics are a little different.  In order for a more reasonable bedtime we need to have dinner at a certain time.  And I am usually wiped out from work. That leaves the EEHO, who is usually wiped out from schoolin’, picking up the YEO and keeping her entertained with snacks and whatever else fits her fancy at the time.  So, lately it’s been boxed prepared meals and Schwan’s(which is surpisingly good, by the way).

You see, I’m just a little more domestic than the EEHO.  If I were a stay-at-home dad like I was for YEO’s first year of life I’d be all domesticated.  The dishes would be done, laundry washed, dried and folded and our house would be clean (either that or I’d be wearing pearls, drinking wine, watching soaps and eating bon-bons.  Hmmm . . . that sounds kind of cool too).  Of course, in order for our house to be clean I would have to shave our two dogs and two cats but I’m up for that!

I guess I find some sort of meditative properties in the acts of domesticity.  Kind of Zen and the Art of Archery but I wouldn’t be shooting stuff.  It’s the process of prepping ingredients that go in to a meal or washing dishes by hand or even folding laundry.  All of these activities seem to center me.  It just seems I can find more meaning (?) in these things that I can do for my family and friends than I can in hanging chain motors, wrapping truss and raising said truss to show height for a Wal-Mart corporate gig.

I guess the EEHO needs to find some wealthy church to pay her so she can support my homely habits of housekeeping.

All Backed Up

I have a backlog of things to write about. I just need the time to do it. So, here’s a little teaser:

  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at the library
  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at Shelby Park
  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at the new ice cream joint in East Nashville
  • The Young Extroverted One’s Spring Break adventures with daddy at the zoo
  • My missing cooking/baking
  • Good times down at the farm
  • Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter

Soon to come:

  • The Young Extroverted One’s first hockey game

Songs to grow a tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pro choicen, gay weddin’, skin color-blinded, conspiracy-minded, protestor of corporate greed* gamma girl

I believe the following list of songs grew out of hearing the Young Extroverted One sing along with the chorus of Todd Snider’s “You Got Away With It.” Call it indoctrination of certain progressive ideals, call it brainwashing, call it what you will. The YEO is a very cool four-year-old and I’d like to say it’s all because of her wonderful parents. But, it could be what we listen to as well.

We do love our music and the YEO has been hearing it since she was a little parasite within the womb of the Elder Extroverted Holy One. I guess it’s only natural that she has had a certain groove (musically and socio-politically).

So, enjoy . . .(in no particular order):

  1. Siyahamba Dan Zanes Night Time!
  2. The Sharing Song Jack Johnson Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George
  3. Shed A Little Light James Taylor New Moon Shine
  4. Hello Bonjour Michael Franti & Spearhead Yell Fire
  5. Anthem Superchick Beauty From Pain
  6. Conservative, Christian, Right-Wing Republican Todd Snider East Nashville Skyline*
  7. You Got Away With It (A Tale of Two Fraternity Brothers) Todd Snider The Devil You Know
  8. I Love Tom T. Hall Country Songs for Children
  9. I Look, I See Yusuf Islam I Look I See
  10. Give a Little Love Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers Time Has Come-The Best of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers
  11. Sing Children Of The World Yusuf Islam I Look I See
  12. Your Mother Yusuf Islam I Look I See
  13. My Own Two Hands Ben Harper & Jack Johnson Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George
  14. Free to Be… You and Me Marlo Thomas & Friends & The New Seekers Free to Be… You and Me
  15. Parents Are People Marlo Thomas & Friends & Harry Belafonte Free to Be… You and Me
  16. Housework Marlo Thomas & Friends & Carol Channing Free to Be… You and Me
  17. It’s Alright to Cry Marlo Thomas & Friends & Rosy Grier Free to Be… You and Me
  18. Stick to the Status Quo Martha Cox, Ryan, Sharpay & Zach High School Musical
  19. Peace Train Yusuf Islam Footsteps In the Light
  20. I Can Be Your Friend The O.C. Supertones Veggie Tales: Veggie Rocks!
  21. If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out Cat Stevens Gold
  22. A Song of Peace David LaMotte This Is My Song
  23. We Are Each Other’s Angels David LaMotte This Is My Song
  24. Love Is My Religion (Acoustic) Ziggy Marley Love Is My Religion
  25. Shalom Salaam Ziggy Marley Dragonfly

The majority of the songs in this list is available on the iTunes Music Store. If you’d like what you see go buy it and support these artists. Or comment below and we can discuss how wrong it is to steal music from big corporate monster record labels.

The Reality of Santa Claus and Parenthood

My wife, the Elder Extroverted Holy One, pointed out a realization she made last night with some friends. WE are the parents! WE have to do all that Santa Claus stuff! ZOINKS!

Geez, I thought all that stuff was going to end up under the tree by the time we all wake up on Christmas morning. What? I have to put a bike together at 3:00 in the morning!?! Huh? Presents have to remain hidden until Christmas eve? I understand that the unreality of the St. Nick has been my reality for a long time now. But it just occurred to us that now the Young Extroverted One is at that age of Christmas magic. And that WE are the ones who have to perpetuate that magic. Which is cool and fine with me but that should have been on the parenting syllabus. Now I feel so overwhelmed and not quite ready for this Christmas magic to happen.

I suppose as long as the YEO experiences this holidy magic it’ll be just fine. Just can’t let her see us sweatin’ it!