"In This Kitchen We Dance" by Jason Kotecki. 20 x 20 Oil on canvas. Original is SOLD. Prints and canvas reproductions available here. I painted this for my wife's 40th birthday. It's one of her favorite quotes, and it perfectly captures the spirit that fills our kitchen. As kids, we danced all the time. We danced when we were excited. We danced when we were happy. We even danced when we were bored. Why did we ever stop? Maybe we started worrying about looking foolish. Maybe we’ve discovered that the world isn’t as carefree as thought it was. Maybe we are afraid of pulling …
The Power of Bam
Yep, it's official. We need more "Bams" in the world. I don't care whether you work at Wal-Mart or on Wall Street, you are viral. More than ever, little things are big deals. In the fight against Adultitis, you can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. Which do you choose? …
The Phone Call No One Wants To Get
Cooties is pretty devastating. But Adultitis is probably more so, because at least you can grow out of Cooties. Awareness is the first step. Better get yourself tested. …
Snapshots From Our First Marathon
Training began about a month ago. Perhaps that wasn't enough time to prepare, especially if you have a hard time jogging around the block without feeling like you have to hurl. But Kim and I had each other to hold ourselves accountable and, as you can see from the photo above, Kim was all business. …
The Skipper
I'm not sure how I feel about this guy. This video is three decades old, but I know one thing for sure: he has no Adultitis whatsoever, as far as I can tell. His secret? Skipping. "That sensation is absolutely one of the most extraordinarily joyous sensations that a person will ever experience." --Bill Martinelli, The Skipper (now known as Skip Martin) I gotta be honest, even though it's been a while since I've been skipping, it's probably in the top five, for sure. It IS hard not to feel joyous when you are skipping! And I love how he made a business out of skipping. But this is the …
The Seasons of Life and a Stress-Reducing Secret
I became a father a little over four years ago. Before that, my wife and I had been married for eight years and worked together on our small business. We were used to working long days, coming and going as we pleased, and eating out at nice, quiet restaurants. We used to have a Cheerio-free backseat in our car. But now we have two kids, which practically makes me an expert at parenting. An expert at knowing how little I actually know about it, that is. …
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Hey Congress. Legislate This.
I couldn't agree more. Imagine these being installed in airports. Imagine these being installed in the offices of all law firms and insurance companies. Imagine these being installed in every single government building, especially the ones in Washington, D.C. I dare say that these could bring peace to the Middle East. Get on it, Congress. …
Emergency Compliments
Just being aware of Adultitis doesn't mean it never beats you once in a while. Some days, it's all over you like leaves on a wet sucker. On days like that, a well-timed compliment can give you a little perspective and the energy you need to fight on. In emergency situations, this website will work in a pinch. …
Unnecessary Whimsy
Kim and I are big fans of unnecessary whimsy. The Carmichael Collective is an ongoing project grounded in unnecessary whimsy. Carmichael Lynch, a creative company based in Minneapolis Minnesota, is behind the project, which is an exercise in creativity for creativity's sake. They created things like the Urban Plant Tags above. As well as these Bug Memorials: And this Censorship Towel: While whimsy is defined as "playfully quaint or fanciful behavior or humor," unnecessary whimsy might be defined as a bit of whimsy that is not particularly needed. Take these hot sauce packets …
10 Ideas for Having Fun During Long Hospital Stays
Nobody typically thinks about having fun at the hospital. In fact, hospitals are a favorite a breeding ground for Adultitis. Which is a bit of a problem, because humor and laughter have been proven to significantly impact the healing process and lift the spirits of patients and their families. Not surprisingly, Adultitis and boredom really set in when hospital stays extend to days, weeks or even months. Blech. What can be done to pass the time, keep spirits up, and have fun during these long hospital days? …
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