I dug up this quote my brother sent me a long time ago. It is from the television show The Wonder Years, which depicted a gentle, nostalgic look at Baby Boom youth and adolescence. Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers; the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul. …
Archives for September 2005
Dreaming is a Responsibility
This post relates to our most recent podcast about immunizing your kids from Adultitis. I link to a Daily Guideposts article written by Mary Engelbreit. Mary is an artist whose warm and charming style is the star of an extremely popular stationery line. In the article, she shares stories about her upbringing, and the ups and downs of "making it" as an artist. One thing that stuck out to me was the variety of advice she received from the "grown-ups" in her life. Her high school guidance counselor, after hearing that Mary wanted to illustrate children's books, offered this advice: “You can’t …
I Wish I May, I Wish I Might
What would you do if Amy Grant or anyone, for that matter, showed up in your town and offered to fulfill your one special wish? If you didn’t get a chance to see the first episode of the new show, 'Three Wishes' I strongly urge you to tune in on Friday night. (8 pm Central time, NBC) It’s a show about hope. Amy and her crew roll into a new town every week and grant the wishes of three people. NBC literally sets up a tent in the middle of town and folks line up to tell their wishes, knowing three will be selected. …
I Love Creative People
The Leo Burnett Company web site is a perfect example of how to create an experience that makes the user "return to childhood." I found myself delighted by the unique and whimsical interface that stands out in a homogenized landscape of very boring "grown-up" web sites. Children are surprised every day by the unique experiences life provides. As adults, we get caught up in the idea that we've seen everything. In a world of ho-hum products and service, there is a big opportunity to be had by the ones that surprise their customers with a fresh perspective. …
Erase Your Way of Thinking
A reader pointed me to a column by D.L Stewart of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Mr. Stewart eloquently describes the nostalgic details of the first days of school: Like Christmas Eve and the night before milestone birthdays, the first school day after summer vacation was a special time. It may have been the end of freedom, but it also was the renewal of hope. The promise that this school year would be different from all the ones that came before it. A fresh start. On the first day after vacation, clothes were unwrinkled and unstained. School bags were filled with fresh supplies: …
The Best Gift Ever
Jason and I are 'wish granters' for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of WI. This is such an unbelievable volunteer opportunity. We get to work directly with wish families to help them through the wish process. By definition this job means we get to talk with the wish child about his/her one special wish, sometimes brainstorming wish ideas with the family and we help them fill out the necessary paperwork. In addition, the job allows us the opportunity to humbly walk into someone's life at a particularly dark time and add a small bit of light and hope. This job has given Jason and I a lot to think …
The Shopping List
When you are helping a three-year-old in the bathroom, you just never know what will happen. I got a fun story from a friend the other day that I want to share. She has a three year old son, Matt. One recent evening they were in the bathroom together, as he was going 'pee pee.' As he was doing his business he pointed down and said 'Penis, mom.' She replied, 'Yup.' Then he said, 'Daddy has penis too.' She replied, 'Yup. But not Mommy.' Then Matt said, 'Buy one, Mommy?' Makes sense in a three-year-old's mind. How adorable! …
Splattered Cat Constellation
The RodeoClown (aka Ian Tyrrell) offers up a nice review of Escape Adulthood on his blog. My favorite part is that he added a few more of his own tips for escaping adulthood: The end of each chapter contains a bunch of tips to try, and so, to conclude, I leave a few tips of my own: Slide down the bannisters. Nothing is more fun than landing a full-length staircase slide and letting everyone know about it. Smile at people. So many people grumping all the time, an unrequested smile can brighten up someone’s whole day. …
A Happy Birthday
My family assembled this past weekend at my brother's new apartment here in Madison for my Dad's 52nd birthday party. We all chipped in for a brand new DVD player. His old one was out of commission because "someone" inadvertently put two DVDs in at once. DVD players don't like that. When the disgruntled DVD player refused to eject the discs, my Dad decided to take matters into his own hands and disassemble the thing. And as life will teach you, taking something apart is much easier than putting it back together. Thus, the need for the new DVD player. But I digress. …
Give Stinky a Makeover
While KimandJason.com is the perfect prescription for a long, boring workday, it's so expansive that sometimes even I forget what's on it--and I designed it! Today I rediscovered a little Flash game I made a few years ago. Like those great Colorforms® of yesteryear, this little diversion allows you to dress up Stinky, Kim's stuffed skunk. It's pretty simple, and abundantly useless, but it's also...fun. Check it out when you have a few minutes of company time to kill ;) …