Good things

This is the best part of the year. Summer is almost here. None of it is used up yet.

The sun is out.

The sky is blue.

The toddlers are all in their summer shorts and sun dresses and headed for the playgrounds.

The water sprinklers are on.

My book is on the Father's Day table at the W 82nd St Barnes & Noble.


Next to Dr. Seuss. How cool is that?


Did I mention that summer is almost here???

Ethan reports on excitement at school

"Today Steve accidentally peed in his underwear. Then, after he washed out his underwear in the bathroom, he was swinging it around and hit Robbie in the head with it. Then at lunch everyone in the school was talking about it, and Tyler said to Robbie, 'I'm never touching your head again.'"

Townhouse renovation idea

My family is not sufficiently impressed with my design ideas, so I must take them to the blogosphere.


We walk to school every morning past this butt-ugly townhouse-turned-apartment-building on West 95th Street. Every time I see it I think to myself, that could look GREAT as a wood-frame townhouse.

It's between two larger buildings, which would allow for wood framing to be added to the exterior without sticking out awkwardly. And it's so ugly now that it's practically a charity project for the block. You know how altruistic I am. It's never about me.

Behold the power of Photoshop. All I need now is money. Donations welcome--who's with me??

Ethan's dream

I walked Ethan to school this morning in the drizzle. Samuel stayed home sick. The bus was late. I forgot my MetroCard.

Ethan said he had a dream last night that he was in a contest--the goal of which was to find a King Cobra in a dark room.

That pretty much sums up the human condition, doesn't it?

Ethan has been watching too much Fox News

Ethan: I wish I won the lottery for $5,000 a week for life.

Todd: What would you do with your money?

Ethan: Pay taxes.

Mother's Day

I come from a long line of wonderful mothers, including my own mom and my two grandmothers. They all loved their children unconditionally, and never for an instant, even in the most trying of circumstances, wavered. I personally tested the theory several times, so I know it's true.

I am blessed to have married Jennifer, who also comes from a long line of great moms. I am blessed because "motherhood potential" was low on my priority checklist when we first kissed in the front seat of my Datsun 280ZX in Iowa City on a cold December night in 1988. (Iowa/cold/December is redundant, for those who know.)

And yet being a great mom turned out to be one of her best traits. She loves Samuel and Ethan unconditionally, and without her they'd probably never have gone to a dentist or owned any clothes.

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mom, my wonderful wife, and every other person in the world who has been fortunate enough to hear the words, "Mommy, I love you."

Thought experiment

Do you ever have thought experiments with yourself? They are great for self-reflection.

I saw the cutest little baby on the subway the other morning. I thought, if someone said I could adopt that baby for $10,000, but I had to answer immediately, what would I do?

I'd say, "There's a Chase right there. Let's go."

Then I thought, would I even call Jennifer first to make sure it's okay with her?

No.

She was that cute.

The self-reflection: it's a testament to Jennifer that our marriage has lasted so long.