Rob's family

My kids are off at University and all my high school booster responsibilities are done.  I've downsized and I have some extra free time.  For years I've said that I would like to teach and a little opportunity to do just that came up.  I grabbed it. I've found a company run by a tech guy in his spare time that offers various after school STEM programs.  He's got loads of things he offers to schools / PTAs.  This group selected  an after school enrichment class in software coding.  The curriculum is self paced and drag & drop.  The essentially make programs out of virtual Lego blocks.  Today was the first day of class.  We're got kids from 1st grade to 6th grade.  There's 13 of them.   Some observations.  Second graders are different than 5th graders.  The little kids' fine motor skills are not as developed as the big kids.  Mouse pad movements was often done with their ...

I'm a softhearted guy.  I'd like to solve all the problems of the world, but I'm pretty wrapped up in my comfortable suburban life; two kids heading off to college in the next couple years.  I think that maybe once they're gone I'll get more involved in helping solve one of those big problems.  I currently do not feel able to make a tangible big change in my life to devote my time and markedly attack these big problems.  My extra time today goes to running the high school music department fund raiser and making sure I'm able to go to my kids' quiz bowl competitions. Lots of talk today in the news about Muslim extremists and terrorism.  My basic belief about people is that they are good.  Raised Catholic and largely agnostic, I know that I'm ignorant about many of world's religions.  I relish opportunities to visit my friends from around the world and see the similarities of how they raise their families and how I have raised mine. Seeing little...

What would Melinda be without music?  She would be a sensitive, thoughtful, caring woman who is super bright and a strong leader.  Recently, I have thought a fair amount about parenting and what our decisions and actions now mean about our children. What if we hadn't nudged and cajoled and supported her music?  What would she have become? This year, I have seen Melinda the leader.  She decided that she wanted to be marching band clarinet section leader.Tough competition - she's a junior in a sea of seniors. She decided she wanted it, and went for it.  "What about drum major?  You could do that."  No.  She wanted to march, and play.  Those are the things she loves about the activity. My kids compete for the chance to walk the dog in the afternoon (if I'll go (okay, and only if the weather is nice)) On our walks, I get to see Melinda the introspective.  This summer she was all about what she had planned for the section.  Got to g...

Incoming Freshman.  Summer school isn't even over yet and already she is ready for school to begin.  Such the social one.  Gretchen wants to receive her schedule NOW so she can discuss it with her friends who are also taking summer classes.  It's important to be able to do that face to face rather than via text or phone.  Once school starts, she wants to do scholastic bowl and student council for extracurricular activities.   Gretchen is a duct taping fiend.  She has strong opinions on what is "quality" duct tape.  Duck brand is good; others - not so much. She read Wuthering Heights this summer and hated it (like her old man (though for different reasons - I didn't like it because it had words, she didn't like any of the characters)).  That was going to be one of her summer reading books for school, but she's switched to "All Quiet of the Western Front" for book one.  She's going to be disappointed with the ending. Not sure w...

When all is said and done And you’re old(er) and gray The kids are off on their own The house is quiet night and day. “Will they ever come back?” And while your heart may be sinking At the thought of a lonely life This is what your kids are thinking... The bad ones: Who cares about family game night? I’d rather have a night out with my friends. You couldn’t make me spend a week on vacation with you for anything. I’ll never miss a business trip to Hawaii for you. I’ll cancel my meeting when pigs fly and I’ll skip out on dinner every other weekend. I’ll come back to visit, does never work for you? When will I forget you? A little more every day. Family, tradition, love? No, I need work, money, luxury. Who cares about the good ones? The good ones: Who cares about work, money, luxury? No, I need family, tradition, love, a little more every day. When will I forget you? Does never work for you? I’ll come back t...

I'm avoiding scooping myself by posting this a week late.  This story first appeared on Mike's blog - http://mikenmitch.wordpress.com/damn-good-recipes/ Camping is a study in contrasts. It's 75 degrees with a light zephyr and the sun setting over the hill vs. 48 and misty, fog on the water and I can't get the damn fire started for coffee. It's the perfect spot on the water where the girls can frolic naked because there's no one for a mile or more vs. bugs so thick I have breathe through my teeth for fear of swallowing them. All of those events have happened to Mike and me (and our four girls) over our 12 years of camping - which is why I feel particularly qualified to do a study on camping cooking - Mike vs. Rob. Mike brought his A game this year and I made sure I didn't bring hot dogs. Dinner on the first night is a good example - Mike cooked. We had fancy trout with scrambled eggs and burnt butter for the main course. He cooked over an open fire usin...

Each girl made me cry today. Gretchen wrote me a poem (below) and Melinda a photo video collage with her playing piano for the background soundtrack. My Dad He looks best in his robe patterned in plaid. That is my dad. I’d never have a reason to call him a bother. That is my father. If I ever wanted to play golf, for sure he’d be my caddy. That is my daddy. If I ever gave him a suggestion, he’d never say “Nah.” That is my da. When I feel sad, he is always there. That is my père. He tells stories even better that Aesop. That is my pop. He never ceases to make me happy. That is my pappy. ~Gretchen