Archives for April 2012

- - - | written by Jason on 4/30/2012 | - - -

When It Comes to Relationships, Our Days Are Numbered

4,363 days. That's how many days Kim and I have been married, as of this writing. I was inspired to figure this number out after attending a breakout session by Steve Wilson at the AATH (Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor) Conference in Chicago last weekend. He explained that he and his wife Pam don't count the years they've been married, but the days. And if you were to ask either of them on the spot what day they were on, they'd be able to tell you. (I want to say it was over 10,000.) And here I thought I was lucky getting hitched in 2000 because I'd always be able to …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/24/2012 | - - -

Be a Froot Loop in a World Full of Cheerios

"Be a Froot Loop in a world full of Cheerios." Source: Rachel …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/23/2012 | - - -

Area Families Launch “Dirt League” to Battle Summer Busyness

We're often told that the secret to happiness is to take the road less traveled. Oftentimes, it certainly seems like there must be a better way to do things than our current approach. But the problem is that the "beaten" path is so well-paved, well-marked and well-lit, that frankly, it can be hard to imagine that there could even be another way, let alone a better one. One small example is the arena of organized sports. My kids are too young to be involved in things like baseball or soccer, but I hear stories of peers who are looking down the barrel of a summer in which the majority of …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/19/2012 | - - -

The Perfect To-Do List

Too often, we judge the value or success of our day by the number of things we were able to cross off our to-do list. That's sad, because life is more than crossing things off lists. But I suppose that's a short-sighted view. After all, it doesn't take into account what's actually ON said list. This is the sort of list I can get behind. I think we could all benefit from scheduling in a lot more singing and a bit more dizzy. Source: stryker.tumblr.com …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/17/2012 | - - -

The Persistence of Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is very persistent. It will stick to the roof of your mouth for a long, long time. When it comes to success, persistence is a secret weapon. Especially these days. In this era of microwaves and text messages and 24-hour news stations, we expect immediate results. We worship the idea of overnight success and lament when it doesn't come our way, overlooking the reality that the overnight successes we are trying to emulate are ten years (or more!) in the making. When you begin any project, whether it is becoming a parent, writing a book, losing weight, training for a …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/15/2012 | - - -

Meet Jennifer Hartvickson

Kim & Jason Nation is a playful group of rebels who share a joyful, indomitable childlike spirit and are not afraid to let that spirit come out to play! They’re united by a common goal of fighting Adultitis and the doo-doo heads who embrace its ideals. Quite frankly, they’re pretty much the coolest people on the planet. Here's one right now... • My name is... Jennifer Hartvickson (a.k.a. Mister Lemur) - It's really fun being Mister Lemur, and also being a GIRL! • My hometown is... Angels Camp, CA, home of the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (thanks for passing through Mark …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/14/2012 | - - -

Macaroni & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

If you're like us, you've often thought, "Why can't you have macaroni and cheese for breakfast?" This certainly qualifies as a rule that doesn't exist, right? Well, I jumped up and down for joy when I saw this recipe on Grandparents.com, of which I am a frequent visitor (don't ask). Granted, it's not as healthy as a bowl of strawberries, but hey, it's got noodles and cheese and -- wait for it -- BACON! It's got bacon, people! Plus it gives you a reason to break a stupid, stupid breakfast "rule." …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/13/2012 | - - -

Love What You’re Doing and Love it in Front of Others

“You rarely have time for everything you want in this life, so you need to make choices. And hopefully your choices can come from a deep sense of who you are. The thing I remember best about successful people I've met all through the years is their obvious delight in what they're doing and it seems to have very little to do with worldly success. They just love what they're doing, and they love it in front of others.” ―Fred Rogers …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/13/2012 | - - -

Live Like the Flintstones – Buy Their House!

Actually, it's Dick Clark's house. But it's real, and it's in Malibu. The single-story Flintstones inspired home has one bedroom, two bathrooms, and views of the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. And it could be yours for a paltry $3.5 million. According to this article, animal appliances are not included in the deal. But the home sits on a 22-acre property, so there should be plenty of room to build a garage for your foot-powered vehicle. Which will probably be the only cars allowed in California soon. …

- - - | written by Jason on 4/11/2012 | - - -

Caine’s Arcade Will Make Your Day

What happens when kids are allowed to be bored, without any organized extracurricular activities and without access to iPods, iPhones or video games? What happens when parents encourage their kids' creativity, even if it makes a mess? What happens when one person is unafraid to let his inner child to come out and play when everyone else is too busy, inhibited, or just too "adult?" What happens when hundreds of people do something simple to make the day of a child? Magic, that's what. This video is the story of a 9-year-old boy who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his …