June 29: Lego Harry Potter

Yes, today the Lego Harry Potter video game for the Wii, among other game systems, was available in stores. And, yes, I made the short trip over to Best Buy to purchase it. I'll admit, I'm a fan of the books/films, and besides we already have the Lego Batman, Lego Star Wars, and Lego Indiana Jones 1 and 2 games, so this new one in the Lego line seemed to be a natural fit. Besides, both of my kids enjoy the Lego games considerably, so I knew Harry Potter would be a hit; even though they've only seen part of the first movie. And, if you've never played any of the Lego video games, whether you're an adult or child, you're missing out. The games are challenging, entertaining and, instead of characters getting "killed" per se, they simply break into pieces. While some may still consider that violent for kids, I think it's quite mild compared to some of the other games I've experienced. Anyway, I got a pretty good deal on the game at Best Buy. The sticker price was 49.99, but I had a $20 Reward Zone certificate and a $27 Gift Card from some previous video game trade-ins. My final cost - 4.79. Not too bad for a brand new video game release, huh?

June 28: You Can Buy Anything Online These Days

Our family is really into sunscreen these days. I even wrote a blog entry on it about a month ago. The problem is, the type of sunscreen that my wife wants the family using is available only at certain stores, and, well, those stores are not in real close proximity to our house. So, this afternoon, for the very first time in my life, I ordered sunscreen online. Yep. Ordered it from the Coolibar web site. Soleo Organics All-Natural sunscreen - with Zinc Oxide as the active ingredient. It's kind of pricey, but since we're committed to the all-natural stuff we figured we'd give it a shot. Let's just hope all of those stories my wife read about the long-term effects of sunscreen chemical ingredients are, in fact, true. Otherwise, we've been wasting our time, not to mention some extra money that we could probably use elsewhere.

June 27: The Virgin Mary Rock

Listen, I'm not going to go and auction this thing off on Ebay or anything, but you gotta admit there is a resemblance here (despite the grainy photo, which happens to be the best I could capture after a dozen or so attempts). And, it's solid rock. I stumbled upon it on our walk into town from the Inn at Stonecliffe this morning; and on our final day, as well! I was looking down at the ground while walking and, for some reason, it caught my eye. But, I didn't realize how much it does in fact look like the Virgin Mary until I had it in my fingers. Strange, but kind of cool. Although, now it makes me wonder is someone up there trying to send me a message?

June 26: Sugar Loaf

We hiked to the center of the Island this morning, following the route the British originally took years ago. Along the way, we passed the Post Cemetery, St. Anne's Catholic cemetery and the Protestant cemetery; as well as Arch Rock and Skull Cave, both of which we had seen the day before on a carriage tour. We also stopped at Lookout Point, my first visit there. For those of you, like me, who did not know, from Point Lookout you also get a breathtaking view of Sugar Loaf, one of the Island's most famous landmarks given its rich history on the Island. Definitely a new Mackinac experience for me.

June 25: A Shortcut and a Hard Thump

More Mackinac to share...after all, since we're here for another 2 days, there's not much new I'm likely to experience that doesn't involve the Island. Today, on our walk down from Stonecliffe into town, a family walking in front of us (they actually started way behind us...which gives you an idea about how quickly we were moving with the kids in tow) clued us into a different route off of Annex Road that led us to West Bluff Road and exited directly in front of the Grand Hotel. It was a much more scenic route than the surrounding forest we continually viewed on the journey up to our Inn the evening before. This particular route took us past the West Bluff which offered a beautiful view of both Lake Huron and the Bridge (which, by the way, you can see from home any time you like via the Bridge Cam). I never even knew this route existed, as I had never hiked around the Grand Hotel on my previous two trips to the Island. Unfortunately, during our journey, my daughter decided to attempt carrying her brother which resulted in a horrific tumble which we immediately became aware of upon hearing the dull thud of my son's head hitting cement. Yes, it was that sound. The one that leaves you wincing at first, then eventually sick to your stomach as you worry about what kind of impact it's going to have, both short- and long-term. Fortunately, my son was no worse for the wear, as he rebounded quickly and showed no other side effects or symptoms to lead us to believe that he suffered anything more than a bump and a little soreness. Talk about thanking your lucky stars....

June 24: The Inn at Stonecliffe

I've been to Mackinac Island exactly 3 times in my life - once in 2007, once in 2008 and the third time beginning today. The first year, we stayed in the Guest House at the Harbourview Inn. The second year, we stayed at the Mission Point Resort. This year, having stayed right in town previously, we decided to "rough it" and stay outside of town...way outside of town, as it turned out. We stayed at The Inn at Stonecliffe, which is about 2.5 miles from town. Uphill. Through the woods. Keep in mind, now, that (a) the only form of transportation is a bike, a horse-drawn carriage with a hefty one-way fee or your feet, and (b) we have two young children. Yes, we were well aware of these things prior to booking the reservations, but we thought it would be something new...an adventure. It most certainly was; at least Day 1 of our 4-day excursion. I'm not much of a runner or walker, thus I'm not real familiar with the reality of distances, but, boy, I can tell you that 2.5 miles is a long way when you're walking. Perhaps the backpacks strapped to both my wife and I added to that task, maybe even the 5-year old who randomly decided he preferred to be carried to walking. Anyway, we did eventually arrive successfully at the Inn and found it to be a real treat. In fact, upon reaching the Inn grounds we were greeted by "Tucker", the beagle who lives across the street from the Inn. Our room is in the Summer Home off of the main Inn building, but it is a very nice room. It has a mini-kitchen - complete with fridge, microwave and handy utensils (i.e. corkscrew/bottle opener) - and a small walk-out patio. This particular Inn is also one of the few accommodations that offers a pool for the kids, so that was definitely a winner, as the first thing we did after unpacking is take a dip! Aside from the long walk, things look good at The Inn at Stonecliffe. Still, we have 3 days to go so we'll have to wait and see if that pattern continues.

June 23: Taking Ahma to Doc's

Two things you should know before I get into this blog entry" (1) to my kids, my Mother-In-Law is known as "Ahma", and (2) Ahma loves herself some candy...she's a candy fanatic! I preface this blog entry with those two facts because today we introduced Doc's candy store in Clawson to Ahma for the very first time. You know the term "eyes lit up", well I actually saw it in action!

June 22: Opening Night

I know there is a reoccurring theme here, but my daughter's first dance recital is a big event for us...and an entirely new experience, as well. Now, after all of the practices, all the sacrifices, not to mention the financial investments, opening night was finally here and my daughter would take the stage in front of a live audience, a sold-out crowd too, for the first time. Ironically, I was feeling the same way I used to feel as a kid prior to practically every baseball game I ever played; that combination of anticipation, excitement and nerves. To be honest, I was a wreck and here's my little girl as calm and collected as can be. Some role model I'm going to be as my kids get older. Anyway, let me just say this, as proud and excited as I was to see my daughter perform the one number she was in up on that stage....I didn't think I was going to make it to that event. Why, you might ask? Well, because this was the marathon of all dance recitals. Seriously, it was the never-ending dance show. It really was. Entertaining? Yes. Engaging. Absolutely. But, waaaaayyy tooooo long! The opening number began roughly around 6:40 pm and the final curtain dropped around 10:00 pm. Almost 3.5 hours of non-stop music, dancing and a stage full of fake smiles reminiscent of "The Stepford Wives". And, of course, my daughter's number was the final dance in Scene 6 - there were 7 scenes total in the show. So, it wasn't like we could watch her dance and then sneak out for the remainder of the show. That wouldn't have worked anyway, as my daughter was required to stay the entire show. Making matters worse, my sister, my two nieces and my Aunt and Uncle all came to opening night! I felt horrible as the show just went on and on and on....sorry, family! But, when my daughter came on stage and I watched her do their little routine to "All for One", it was all worth the wait! No, I didn't shed any tears of joy, but I am just so proud of her ability to go up there and dance in front of all of those people; and she was great in her performance! What a night in so many different ways.

June 21: Dress Rehearsal

For those of you not familiar with dance recitals, which was me prior to this year, the studio typically holds an in-studio rehearsal, which I already shared with all of you, and a dress rehearsal at the location of the recital shows. Tonight was my daughter's dress rehearsal - full costume, full make-up, full routine in front of a smaller audience. And, I thought the in-studio rehearsal was chaotic. For this one, we had to sit in the theater audience and wait until they called her scene. During this waiting period, we watched all of the other numbers from the scene prior to hers. When that neared its conclusion, the studio owner called out the numbers for the next scene, my daughter's included, at which point my wife had to run her backstage where she was forced to turn her over to the crew running that show, complete strangers to us of course. Needless to say, I was completely stressed out by this whole experience, and this is well before my daughter's group even hit the stage, Naturally, I assumed my daughter would feel the same level of stress. Boy, I was wrong. When she came out on stage, it was on! She looked as comfortable as ever and her performance was flawless; well, I'm no dance expert, but it was flawless in my eyes. I was so proud of her, and this wasn't even the show! Thus, I'm thinking it may be a good idea to bring some tissues to tomorrow's opening night...unfortunately, my pride tends to turn emotional rather quickly in these types of situations.

June 20: Father's Day Breakfast

This morning, my family greeted my awakening to this 2010 Father's Day with breakfast in bed. In the past, my wife had brought me breakfast in bed, which was unforgettable in its own right, but I'd never had the whole family, kids chipping in to make the breakfast, treat me to such a surprise. The very delicious menu included egg-in-a-frame, sausage, a fruit cup and a hot cup of fresh coffee. In addition, they had made me a tape measure out of a cardboard box that identified how I measured up as a Dad. Thankfully, I made the grade! All of these surprises, breakfast and all, obviously made my Father's Day.

June 19: Wild Blackberries

Today, my wife discovered that we have wild blackberries growing just outside the wire fence that separates our backyard from the field behind us. She did a bit of research to confirm that they are wild blackberries and not something different; perhaps even dangerous. And, I guess she found what she needed, as she went so far as to sample one of the blackberries. Seeing as she nor I are a trained botanist or horticulturalist, I didn't think that such a wise move. I, particularly, did not feel like writing about her hospitalization as part of a new experience for this blog, and luckily I didn't have to. What I did learn, however, is that wild blackberries are just as unique in their own right as us finding them in the field behind our house.

• Poison ivy is often confused with wild blackberry plants and vice-versa due to the similarities in their leaves. But, there is one important difference that you can read about here.
• There are 4 different species of wild blackberries
• Blackberries are full of nutrients; specifically, they are great source of vitamins A and C
• Blackberries are not really a berry, in botanical terms, but an aggregate fruit of numerous drupelets
• Blackberry leaves are food for certain caterpillars; some grazing mammals, especially deer, are also very fond of them
• Blackberries were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, who believed them to be a cure for diseases of the mouth and throat, as well as a preventative against many ailments, including gout
• The blackberry leaf was also used as an early hair dye

June 18: Microsoft HUP

I recently came across this very cool benefit offered by my employer to all Bank associates. It's the Microsoft Home Use Program. Basically, what it does is enable me to purchase Microsoft Office 2010, the Professional Plus version, for the low, low price of 9.99 (handling charges, whatever that means) for use on our home computer. Actually, the timing of this discovery was impeccable as our trial version of Office that came with our laptop just expired and we were planning on investing the money into the Home and Student version anyway. Today, I ordered the software, and it arrived in the quick and easy format of an immediate download; took about 10 minutes to complete and now we are able to run Office again from our home laptop - not to mention save about $140 in the process. Needless to say, today was one of those days when I really liked my job a whole lot!

June 17: Solitaire

This evening, while awaiting the finale to my daughter's weekly dance class, my wife and I engaged in separate (obviously) games of solitaire. Our kids have recently shown an interest in card games; specifically Slapjack and War. We thought it might be a little more productive to teach our son the game of Solitaire. That way, when the other two card games lead to disagreement and arguing among him and his sister, which they eventually always do, we can send each child off with a packet of cards to engage in a game of solitaire independently. They learn, we enjoy the silence of two children not fighting. It's a win-win situation! It was during this "training" experience that I learned my wife and I approach the game of solitaire by a different set of rules. Well, just one really...my wife plays Kings as the base card upon which she builds her suits, while I play Aces as my base card from which I build everything else. Just a subtle difference, most likely from the way we were taught by our parents before us, but enough to make me do a little more research on the topic - mostly to find out if I'm right or she's wrong. My entire life I thought Solitaire was one, single game...I was wrong. In reality, there have to over 100 different solitaire games (I didn't count them, but you're more than welcome to if you like). Interestingly enough, Solitaire has also been around since the late 1700s, and it is often called "Patience" based on an old German/Scandinavian tradition which "assumes that a person’s 'luck' will vary from time to time and important matters should not be initiated or conducted when the cards are not favourable. If there are no winnings in the game for a number of tries it spells caution in what you do. If a win at the first try times are good and “luck” smiles at you, thus the immediate future can be used for important decisions". There's more about the history here for all of you history buffs. Unfortunately, for a game of luck, I sure didn't have any trying to find the details I originally set out to find. All of my research failed to identify whether my wife's method of play or mine is the "correct" way to play Solitaire. So, I'm left with no choice but to assume that my way is the right way. After all, my wife's usually right about everything else, and I've got to win one sometime, right?

June 16: My First Day Saving the World

I've previously used this blog space to make mention of recycling and an increasing desire to contribute to the cleanliness of our Earth by doing my part and recycling. Today, I took my first step from all talk to a little more walk. Or, as Elvis would say "a little less conversation, a little more action". This morning, I took my first recycling bin to the curb. And, yes, it was filled with recyclable material that my family had taken the time, and the 500 gallons of water that goes with that, to clean each piece before adding it to the recycle bin. I have to admit, it felt good to do something that, by theory, will help the environment. But, why is it a part of me still believes that it's all some gimmick? Like the recycling truck simply takes what it collects and throws it in some landfill on the opposite side of town from the garbage landfill. Call it the skeptic in me, as I haven't seen any proof to support such a conspiracy theory. Unless of course you consider the numerous sites online that oppose recycling; primarily due to its cost. I don't. So, next Wednesday, I will continue to take my bin to the curb and do my part to ensure a better world for my children. In the end, I just hope I'm not wrong and all of these efforts are worth it.

June 15: Graduation!!!

This evening, my son became the second child in our household to graduate......from Pre-school! Yep, he's moving on to bigger things in life, like Kindergarten, of course. Hey, it's not every day that your son graduates from pre-school! And, his daycare really makes a big deal out of the event, too. All of the parents and family members gathered into one of the tiny classrooms, then the kids came in, all lined up in order, with their caps atop their little heads. The kids performed the Pledge of Allegiance, then several songs including one in which they used the sign language they had learned throughout the "school year". They wrapped up the performances for the night with a cute number that talked about the time they have spent at the daycare. My son's teacher, Ms. Donna, who also had a tremendous impact on my daughter's learning during her time there, is a wonderful person and when she addressed the parents about how special our children were to her, my eyes got a little watery but I managed to keep a grip (probably because she almost lost it while giving her speech). But, the best part of the evening was watching my son hang out with all of his buddies. I'd seen the gang all together at birthday parties and such, but until tonight I never realized just how much the other guys are enamored with my son. So much that some parents described to us how much their kids talk about him at home. I'm not one of those parents who wants so desperately for his children to be popular, I'm just so proud of my son's ability to make friends with so many different kids. He has the gift of looking beyond race, sex and any other differences between people and extending his friendship to everyone. Of all the things he's learned in preschool that he's going to take with him into Kindergarten and beyond, I hope that's the one that always stays with him.

June 14: Old Navy, New Experience

With my son's pre-school graduation a day away, we had recently perused his closet and realized he did not have anything, which we could reasonably deem, "nice" to wear for this big event; unless of course one considers a super-hero T-shirt and athletic shorts proper graduation attire. We did not. The boy is going to graduate pre-school once in his life, and with no gown to don, we needed something appropriate. So, after dinner, the family made a trip to Kohl's where we found a nice blue polo and some khaki shorts that would do the job. Even had him try on a little shirt/slacks/tie outfit, at his request, which looked adorable on him; but he opted for the more comfortable shirt/short combo and I, myself, was pleased with his choice between the two. On the way back home, I got the itch to do a little shopping for myself; being in desperate need of some athletic shorts...the official summer garb of those, like myself, who work out of their home. Enter Old Navy - the home of quality, yet moderately priced, clothing for Dad, Mom and the kids! The funny thing about Old Navy is I never know how to size their clothing. I usually take a medium, but for some reason an Old Navy medium always looks more like a large. Then, there is the shrinkage factor. My experience with Old Navy attire is that it tends to shrink after washing/drying. In the past, I've usually selected my presumed size and rolled the dice on it. Maybe it's because I've always been a little weary of those communal dressing rooms or maybe it's just because the whole schtick with Old Navy has never been about cleanliness or order. Their fitting room section always seems to be mired in a mess of clothing piles and filled garment racks; kind of like the outlet shops at Birch Run. But tonight, I took the journey....I used the Old Navy fitting room for the first time to ensure my shorts were going to be a good fit. I had to, this one pair marked "Medium" looked like Val Kilmer could have fit into them - 2010 Val Kilmer that is. And, the shorts did, in fact, fit me. Plus, I was able to try something new in the process, not to mention confirm for all of you that, despite their appearance, the fitting rooms at Old Navy are not as scary as they may seem. The customers though, at least at this location, well, that's another story.

June 13: The Blue Margarita

Chi Chi's, Mexican Village, Abuelos, Taco Bell....I've tried a lot of Mexican restaurant in my lifetime, both genuine and not so genuine. Today, I added The Blue Margarita in Woodhaven, MI to that list. I don't know too much about Woodhaven, but I do know that the current location of The Blue Margarita used to be one of the infamous Ashley's locations. Anyway, I did a little research to find out more about the history of The Blue Margarita. Interestingly, it heralds from a long line of Detroit-area Mexican restaurants; its ownership has connections to both Armandos downtown and the current Los Galanes in Mexicantown. Which probably explains the authenticity of the cuisine, not to mention a tasty margarita from which I snuck a few sips of my wife's. Although the decor is slightly cheesy, and the building doesn't really give off much of a Mexican feel, the food is good and the atmosphere light and casual. If you do decide to try it out, I recommend the chimichangas and a cold Tecate. It definitely hit the spot for me.

June 12: Panic at the Disco

There really isn't a disco involved, per se. But, chaos was definitely part of the equation. Tonight I attended my first in-studio rehearsal at a dance studio. Well, it wasn't my rehearsal, of course, but my daughter's in preparation for her first dance recital. I wasn't really sure what to expect as there were all of these rules we had to abide by simply to get her to the rehearsal - arrive 20 minutes before her scheduled time, make sure her hair was tied back, she MUST have her dance shoes and dance attire or else she can participate, etc., etc., etc. My son's T-ball league doesn't have nearly as many rules as this extravaganza. Nonetheless, we followed them all and got her to the studio ready to dance. Upon arrival, the whole studio was buzzing with dancers going in and out, parents shuffling their children to and fro, and, in short, mass hysteria. The last time I saw anything like it was when my sister was competing for her rightful place on the All-American Drill Team in Dayton, Ohio! Only then I was just a teen-ager going along for the ride. Now, I'm responsible for one of the little dancers and, therefore, I have to actually stay on top of things (along with my wife, thank God). Her scheduled rehearsal was an hour long, and we came to find out, about the middle of it, that she wasn't practicing the whole time, but rather watching the other numbers in between. In the hour's time, her group practiced their number twice. Twice! Sorry, but on a Saturday night, you think they could make better use of all these kids', and their families', time. Or, maybe it's just me...

June 11: GMOs

Sticking with the "health" theme for just a little longer, today's topic is GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms. They're in foods we eat every day and, from what I've read about them, they are not a good thing for our bodies. However, they seem to be the latest buzz among scientists. Basically, the concept is that we take DNA from one species and inject it into another species; thereby creating these hybrid combinations of plants, animals, bacteria and viral genes that would not otherwise be in existence naturally. Sounds a bit like a science fiction film to me, but it is in fact real. Unfortunately, they have not been proven entirely safe; unless of course you get the research results directly from those companies who are creating GMOs and, thus, profiting from them. What's scary is that estimates show that GMOs are present in more than 80% of packaged products found in an average U.S. grocery store. From my research, corn, soy, canola and cotton are the ingredients that most commonly come from genetically-engineered crops; and, specifically, you should be weary of the following:

Corn: corn oil, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, corn meal
Soy: soy protein, soy lecithin, soy oil, soy sauce, soy isolates
Canola: canola oil
Cotton: cottonseed oil

There are a ton of sites out there with "information" about GMOs. I found a few that have some simple basics about GMOs, including this one and another good read here, as well. I was also able to find this shopper's guide on the Center for Food Safety web site. And, here are some recommended steps to avoiding GMOs in food. Like anything else, it comes down to individual opinion and what you believe. But, someone once said "Understanding is the first step to acceptance." I don't know who that someone was, but they sure sound wise to me.

June 10: Little Photographer

Today is my son's final day at preschool, and he graduates next Tuesday evening! Of course, my wife and I are proud as punch! Since it's such a big day for him, for his class we brought in the all-time best ice cream for celebration among young children....yes, it's Push-Ups, of course. But, that's not what this blog entry is about as both me and my son have had Push-Ups plenty of times. I also let him take our digital camera to daycare with him so that he could grab some photos of all his pals; of whom most, unfortunately, he will likely never see again unless by random chance. We let my daughter do the same thing when she left the same daycare for the final time, and I didn't want my son, at 16, looking through pictures and asking why his sister had several photos of her class at the daycare center and he had none. Sure, it was a risk letting him manage a moderately priced camera without parental supervision, but one well worth taking due to the aforementioned reason. Besides, his teacher promised she would monitor the situation for us. In the end, it all worked out beautifully. He felt like a big shot snapping photos of the gang, and he has some nice memories to look back on from his few years at the center. I just can't believe he's going to be starting Kindergarten in a few short months. Man, time sure does fly, doesn't it?

June 9: The Old Ball Game

Growing up, baseball was as much a part of my childhood as cartoons, swimming and playing around the neighborhood until the street lights came on. I love the game, and I loved playing it! I still do, however, these days the old body doesn't keep up as well as it used to. This spring is my son's second year playing T-ball, and it's the first experience in organized ball for my youngest nephew on my sister's side. Tonight was my first experience watching him play. And, for the game being so new to him he did great! The league is a coach-pitch format, and my nephew performed very well at the plate. He looked comfortable and his mechanics are quite good. In the field, he did just as well. He had a few hit to him and he was able to field the ball and get it back into the infield. It's never easy jumping into something that you've never tried before, and I was very impressed with his courage to do so, and how well he adapted to the game despite his inexperience. Way to go, Zack!

June 8: TerraCycle

Okay, so I realize there is a reoccurring theme happening here over the past week or so. What can I say? My health and environmental conscience is getting the best of me. Anyway, today I learned about this organization called TerraCycle, which is a leading advocate of "upcycling". By definition, upcycling is taking some form of material, and converting it into something of similar or greater value. On a social level, the term is typically used to refer to the conversion of waste into products that are deemed valuable by society. For example, purses, backpacks, frames, toys, clipboards and a multitude of other products; some of which are pretty cool. So, TerraCycle runs this free, national collection program in which people like you and I can send them items that can be recycled and, in exchange, TerraCycle makes a donation to a charity of your choice. It's actually a fairly ingenious process to both clean up the Earth, as well as help out charities in need. Here's how it works: (1) You register on their website, identifying your "collection team" (which can be school, business, neighborhood, etc.) and charity of choice in the process. (2) You sign up for specific "brigades", which is basically what you will be collecting and sending to TerraCycle to recycle (i.e. candy wrappers, plastic bottles). (3) You go out and collect the so-called "garbage", send it to TerraCycle; they even send you the recycling bags. (4) TerraCycle donates to your charity in increments based on your collection levels. My family has not registered yet, but we're planning on it; we're eyeing the juice pouch and wine cork brigades. And, my children's school is even on the charity list! So, don't just sit there. Get on your computer, go to the TerraCycle website and enroll! I, for one, definitely want a better Earth for my kids as they take this journey through life.

June 7: UHT Milk

My wife bought this 4-pack of Organic Valley chocolate milk for the kids; specifically, for my daughter to take to school as part of her lunch this final week of school since the cafeteria is closed down. My wife, however, was concerned about the fact that she found the milk on a store shelf, not in the dairy case. We, of course, immediately put it into the fridge upon returning home, but my curiosity over this non-refrigerated milk wouldn't go away. So, I did what any responsible parent would do when looking for answers about their child's best interest...I turned to the Internet. My research started with the Organic Valley website. I found this information, which identifies the UHT pasteurization process used by the company, as well as their aseptic packaging process - both which apparently contribute to the milk's unique superpower of not requiring refrigeration. Aseptic Packaging/Processing, I discovered, "locks out the 'bad' (light, air, bacteria) and locks in the 'good' (nutrients, amino acids, isoflavones, flavor). I also learned that in 1996, the aseptic package received the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, the only package ever to receive this coveted environmental prize. The recognition was give by none other than former Vice-President, Al Gore (apparently in between his time invested in discovering the Internet). As for UHT Pasteurization (UHT being Ultra-High-Temperature), I learned that the process involves raising the temperature of the milk to about 285 degrees F (141 degrees C) for one or two seconds, thus sterilizing the milk. Thereafter, the milk is cooled to 7 C or lower resulting in the product having a better keeping quality and a longer shelf life. I can't say that I fully understand what all of this means, but I am slightly more confident that allowing my kids to drink "milk on a shelf" isn't necessarily a bad thing; regardless of how weird I still think the whole concept is.

June 6: Recycling Materials

I've often wondered what those numbers on the underside of plastics represent. Feeling adventurous, today I took it upon myself to find out. A quick Google search of the keywords "recycling numbers" turned up several promising results. I decided to go with the Daily Green's "What Do Recycling Symbols on Plastics Mean?". And, I was awarded with some very thorough and interesting information about those aforementioned numbers. First, the number is based on the type of material of which the plastic in question is made. Secondly, certain numbers should be avoided - numbers 3, 6 and 7 specifically - as the material from which they're made can be toxic. Although many of the arguments against such plastics have not been "officially" proven, it's still worth noting that the materials some of these plastics are made from have already come into question in terms of their affect on our health. I, for one, don't need much more proof beyond it's toxic and it could eventually kill me. Do you?

June 5: Shrek Forever After

I'm a huge fan of the Shrek series of movies. To me, those movies do an incredible job of appealing to both the adult and child fan base via their unique combination of silliness, clever references and heartfelt themes. Whenever I watch any of the Shrek movies, I always feel like a kid listening to a bedtime story; with a twist of humor thrown in, of course. Besides, you have to love a series of films for which all of the big name stars continue to return - that's a rarity these days. This afternoon, the family took in the latest and final Shrek offering "Shrek Forever After". I've both heard and read mixed reviews; some love it, others seem to feel like this final chapter trade the humor, we know and love from the Shrek series, in exchange for more of an emotional connection with its audience. I fully disagree...I thought "Shrek Forever After" was just as bit as funny as movies 1-3. First, they could not have picked a better "bad guy" than the impish, devious Rumplestiltskin, who's more clumsily funny than he is villainous. You've got a stressed-out Shrek, who's going through a major mid-life crisis making him constantly grumpy and on edge, and you've got Puss in Boots about 30 pounds heavier after letting himself go. I won't reveal too much for those of you who have not seen the film yet, but the storyline is adventurous, hilarious and even touching at times; the same combination that won our hearts with the first 3 Shrek movies. So, don't let any of the "bad"reviews sway you. If you loved "Shrek", "Shrek 2" and "Shrek the Third", you'll feel the same way about "Shrek Forever After". The only "bad" thing I can say I took away from the experience is walking out of the theater realizing it was the last time I would see a Shrek film on the big screen. All good things must come to an end I guess...

June 4: Recital Tickets

Have you ever stood in line at a dance studio to buy recital tickets on a Friday at 4 in the afternoon? Me either...until today. Yes, with my daughter's first dance recital just around the corner, today was the official opening of the box office for tickets. See, each dancer in a class participating in the show drew a number and that number determined when that dancer's family could arrive at the studio to buy tickets. Great process, huh? Then again, they're teaching dance there, not efficiency. Anyway, we got number 48 meaning that we were in the first group of families to buy tickets (1-50) and the frenzy for us would begin sharply at 4 pm EST. If we did not arrive by 4, we would be forced to the end of the line regardless of our number. Yes, we actually were expected to stand in line while waiting. So, after losing a series of Rock-Paper-Scissors to my wife, I was the chosen one who would represent at this ticket event. After arriving, before 4 of course, I was ushered inside the doors with the other early birds where I sat for 15 minutes until the big hand hit 12 and the little hand hit 4. At this point, the group is told to get in line in numerical order. What? Apparently, in preparation for this fun, we were supposed to memorize the face and number of every other person before us in order to know where to jump into line. I have to admit, while waiting, I found the reoccurring complaints about the high ticket prices a little humorous, as my wife and I had recently had that same conversation. Finally, it was my turn. The whole time I'm thinking I buy my tickets and when we get to the show we find an open seat. But, no, we were actually buying our specific seats. No wonder it's such a production! I quickly grabbed the best seats available and bolted from the place as quickly as possible. Funny, it just didn't have the same luster as waiting in line for U2 tickets 20 years ago....I must be getting old.

June 3: Toxic America

During a random browsing of the world's current issues via the Internet, CNN specifically, I came across a disturbing report from Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Apparently, it's part of a series the good doctor is doing called Toxic America, which aired on CNN last week. One of the more interesting articles I read in this series discussed five chemicals, that frighteningly are found in common household products, which are now being linked to many health and behavioral issues; including cancer. Scary stuff. The five chemicals are BPA - Bisphenol A, Phthalates, PFOA -Perfluorooctanoic acid, Formaldehyde, and PBDEs. Whether you buy into these "warnings" or not, I would highly recommend everyone read this article as we would be remiss to think that some, if not all, of these chemicals have at least the potential to be harmful to our health. "Better informed than sorry" is the motto I'm living by these days.

6/2: Einstein's brain

My wife shared a story with me, following dinner this evening, that she had heard over the radio on her commute home. The story was about the fate of Albert Einstein's brain following his death in 1955. The story my wife told was that the doctor who performed the autopsy on Einstein removed his brain and kept it for years in an effort to study it and determine what exactly attributed to Einstein's high level of intelligence. So, as the story goes, his research led to the discovery that Einstein's brain had more of a certain substance (my wife could not remember the name of this "substance") than the normal human brain which some theorize was the reason behind Einstein's intelligence. Years later, this doctor allegedly tried to return the remaining portions of the brain to Einstein's grand daughter, however, she politely declined and the doctor was left to turn over the parts to Princeton University where it still resides today.

Now, sometimes my wife hears stories, but when she passes them along, certain key facts seem to get skewed or inadvertently omitted in her translation. Just another reason why I adore my wife so much. But, I decided to look up this Einstein story and see how the truth aligned with my wife's version. Surprisingly, other than the aforementioned "substance" and the grand daughter component, she was pretty accurate in her version. What I discovered in my research, is that Dr. Thomas S. Harvey was the Pathologist who performed Einstein's autopsy, and he did, in fact, take Einstein's brain within 7 hours of his death. He dissected the brain into 240 blocks and preserved them in collodian. Harvey was later fired from Princeton University for refusing to give back the brain sections. In 1978, a journalist named Steven Levy rediscovered the brain in Harvey's possession. Apparently, Dr.. Harvey was keeping the brain sections preserved in alcohol in 2 large Mason jars. The substance to which my wife referred were glial cells, which support signal transmission in the brain. Einstein's brain showed a significant more quantity of these cells as compared to the normal male human brain in the left inferior parietal area; part of the region of the brain responsible for incorporating and synthesizing information from multiple other brain regions. Unfortunately, there is no clear proof that Einstein's abundance of these cells had a direct connection to his intelligence. And, unfortunately, I didn't find anything about the grand daughter declining her Grandfather's brain segments.

So, there you have it. Kudos to my wife for re-telling the story with such a high-degree of accuracy (and enthusiasm). Honey, you may have lost the kids early on, probably because they have no idea who Einstein was, but I listened to every word (for once, right?). And, this time, you were right on target!

6/1: Chaperone

Today, I played chaperone to my daughter and 3 of her friends - all girls- for the school's Detroit Zoo trip. All 3 classes in my daughter's grade went on the trip, and I was one of probably 20 or so volunteers. I had volunteered to help out in my daughter's class before, but this was the first official grade school field trip that I've chaperoned for either of my kids. Why they gave me 4 girls in my group I have no idea. But, off we went. The trip started with a bus ride to the zoo - the first time I'd ever been a passenger on one of the school district's buses. That in itself was quite an experience. My daughter wanted to sit with two of her pals, so I ended up sitting with two other girls in her class. Very nice young ladies, but I never realized how long kids can go on talking about anything and everything if you just let them carry on without interruption. These girls must have covered everything from their family members to middle names to their favorite zoo animals! Then, upon arrival at the zoo, us and about 400 other buses filled with kids from other area schools, I had the task of keeping them all together and nearby as we made our way to the front gate. From there, we were on our own, as the various groups split up and we were able to navigate our own path of choice through the zoo. So, here's me, backpack filled with 5 lunches and water bottles thrown over my shoulder, clipboard with an activity the kids were to complete in one hand and a zoo map in my other hand trying to keep the group of 4 together but still cover some ground in the zoo in order to see as many animals as possible before the scheduled lunch with the entire class back behind the Butterfly House. In the end, I left with 4 and I was able to return 4 safely to the school, And, to be honest, all of these young ladies were on their best behavior and very cooperative throughout our zoo journey. Regardless, it didn't really matter how easy or difficult it was, as the main thing was that I got to spend an entire day with my daughter out in the sunshine touring the zoo. Does it get any better than that on a work day?

May 31: Swapping out the Tank

Back on May 15, I wrote about how our fish tank was slowly being taken over by aquatic snails. Well, we purchased some snail-ridding chemical, but after reading about the negative impact it can have on the entire tank, we decided not to use it. Instead, today, we removed the fish, drained the entire tank, scooped out all of the gravel and stone in the bottom, took the tank outside, scrubbed it down, added brand new gravel, threw in a couple of new decorative structures and some fake plants, refilled the tank, and put the fish back in. Whew! Oh, and we also put a new filter on the tank. Please keep your fingers crossed that we got rid of every last one of those little buggers. If not, I think we're just going to give the fish back to the pet store and start raising snails instead.

May 30: Dennis Hopper

Actor Dennis Hopper passed away yesterday following a bought with prostate cancer. I've never been an avid Hopper fan, but I always thought the guy was a great actor in the movies that I've seen him in. Most memorable for me are his roles in Speed, Blue Velvet, Easy Rider (of course), Hoosiers, and, for some reason, True Romance (maybe it's that seen between him and Walken right before Hopper gets iced?). I also enjoyed him as a Presidential candidate in 2008's Swing Vote and flower child Huey Walker in 1990's Flashback. But, in his passing, I've read some things about Dennis Hopper that I never knew. Some of these things I found very surprising:

• He was married 5 times
• He had great admiration for James Dean, whose death had a huge impact on Hopper
• He became friends and socialized with Elvis and actor Nick Adams in the late 50s/early 60s
• He was an avid photographer, painter and sculptor
• He spent much of the 1970s and early 1980s living as "an outcast" in a small town he purchased after the success of Easy Rider
• He had 4 children and two grandchildren
• Through his career, he battled both alcohol and drug abuse, even going through a period of time where he was drinking a 5th of rum per day.

RIP - Dennis Hopper

May 29: Sunscreen

Last year, my wife was diagnosed with melanoma on her arm. Fortunately, it was caught early and didn't spread to any other area of her body, and she is now cancer-free. Scary, yes. A learning experience, absolutely. My wife is now more conscience of the sun and sun-safe products, that I've learned more about sunscreen than I could have ever imagined I would. Today, my wife taught me that mineral-based sunscreen is what you really want to use for your body. Everything else contains chemicals that, while blocking out the sun, can also be harmful to your body in the long-term. To be more specific, the two ingredients you want to be absolute certain are in your sunscreen are Titanium Dioxide and/or Zinc Oxide, with Zinc Oxide being the most effective and safest ingredient in sunscreen. And, the ingredient you want to avoid is oxybenzone. This information is based solely on my wife's research, but I've found information that supports her theory, such as this article or this one or even this one. In the end, we all have to decide what is best for ourselves and our families when it comes to applying sunscreen. However, for me, the lesson I've learned is the best plan is to simply stay informed and be aware of what you're putting on or in your body.