Strauss Jr. and Brahms: Friends

A brief glimpse into the the friendship of two of the worlds' greatest composers.  I wish I could have been there.  Strauss was known as the "King of Three Quarter Time" or the "Waltz King".   Used in countless cartoons, television shows, and movies (Spongebob as of late), Strausses "Blue Danube" is arguably the worlds most recognizable waltz tune.  Though vastly different in style and scope Brahms' music was equally as popular.  Every night his "Lullaby" is sung and hummed to millions of children before bedtime.

Johannes Brahms was a personal friend of Strauss, and to whom the latter dedicated his waltz "Seid umschlungen, Millionen!" ("Be Embraced, You Millions!"), Op. 443.^[18] A story is told in biographies of both men that Strauss's wife Adele approached Brahms with a customary request that he autograph her fan. It was usual for the composer to inscribe a few measures of his best-known music, and then sign his name. Brahms, however, inscribed a few measures from the "Blue Danube", and then wrote beneath it: "Unfortunately, NOT by Johannes Brahms."^[19]

 Click here for the full article from Wikipedia.

The Dad Pack

Any good parent knows that the key to avoiding an undesirable scenario is to think ahead and expect the unexpected.  For instance, let's say your child spews her chicken nuggets all over her brand new outfit.  Bam!  Wipes, a freezer-sized Ziploc bag, and an extra change of clothes.  What's that?  A freshly skinned knee?  Pow!  Band-aid.  Waited too long to go to the bathroom?  Shazam!  A fresh pair of underwear.  Have a serious  case of the munchies?  Wah-lah!  Snacks galore.  Feeling thirsty?  Boom!  Sippy cup to the rescue!  How, you ask, could one man possess so much foresight yet conceal it with such suave as to seem like any other dad? BEHOLD! THE DAD PACK.  It is not a man bag or a common backpack as it is often mistaken.  No, this is the dad pack and not just any man can wield it's power.  For within it's myriad of cavernous compartments lies what no mere man could possibly carry.  It is to a dad as a bible to a priest, a sword to a knight, or a gavel to a judge. 

Fear not, for I am all powerful Dad!  I wield the power of THE DAD PACK.

So... what's in your dad pack?

Disclaimer: As hard as it is to believe, nine times out of ten I am lacking most of these things I claim to have in my bag but I can dream can't I?

Emma's First Day of 1st Grade

Well it's back to school for Emma and her first day went off without a hitch. I was very glad that her mom got to see her off with me.Since Union doesn't start till Friday I was able to pick up Emma from home and meet her mom at school (located conveniently on the same campus) and walk across the street dodging scores of anxious parents.

There would have been a picture of Emma standing next to "Westly" the appropriately named penguin statue outside building D but Emma was not keen on that idea. We didn't want to upset her or keep people who were waiting behind us from getting a pic. Maybe next year. :) Instead we opened the front doors to a line of parents and students reminiscent of a summer blockbuster at the theatre. We trudged our way through where we were greeted by Emma's para, Eric, (with whom she really hit it off) and her good friend Mitchell. They hopped in their little red wagon, said goodbye and with a few choked backed tears and rushed reminders from mom they were off. I am so proud of our little peanut. You've come a long way.

Potty Training Relapse!

"Are you happy Daddy?," queried my youngest innocently.  "No! I'm not happy, " I grumbled trying to keep a lid on my ever increasing frustration.  Emma had just had an accident in a McDonald's playground leaving an unpleasant surprise for her playmates.  Thankfully I'd had the foresight to bring along wipes and some pull-ups unlike the previous time at the park.  From what I understand potty training relapses are pretty common in children but that doesn't make it any easier.  It's hard not to look for some underlying cause if it weren't for the fact that there isn't one.  In the big scheme of things I'm sure I'll look back and count this as a minor bump in the road but right now... it's happening.  Emma starts school tomorrow and, as with any child starting first grade, it's going to be a bit of a transition for her after swimming and filling her head with Sponge Bob all summer long.  We are thankful however that she is looping up with her kindergarten teacher and really hit it off with her new para she met yesterday.  It's going to be harder for her little sister who's grandmother, thank God, will be reprising her reoccurring role as caretaker while mom and dad are hard at work teaching students of their own.  Here's to another year and hoping that our precious little ones will quickly grow out of this stage.

Two Little Girls

My world is two little girls.  Each one as different as they are equally loved.  One's been here for six years the other for only three and I can't wait to share the rest of my life with them.  Together they are kind, caring, passionate, outspoken, daring, and mischievous.  They fill my life with smiles, giggles, hugs, frustration, worry, and stress.   They teach me more about myself every day then I could teach them in a lifetime.  They can turn my scolding lecture to laughter with a silly grin and make me do things I never thought I could.  They bring me to tears at the drop of a hat and when all is said and done...

Emma Lynne 6, Grace LeEva 3

they have me wrapped around their little finger.