I've written before that one of the BEST parts of being grown-up is having the ability and the know-how to take awesome things from childhood to a new level of awesomeness. The sweet photos above? No, they were not created by some guy in a small plane or captured with the iPhone of a blimp pilot. They were taken by a camera attached to a kite. Yes, a freaking kite. You know, that thing kids play with on windy days? In fact, Kite Aerial Photography is a real thing. Google it. …
Outdoor Fun
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 High Roller: A Big Wheel for Grown-Ups
One of the worst parts about growing up (I know, there are many): outgrowing your Big Wheel. Yes, upgrading to a two-wheeled bike is cool, but nothing beats the pure joy of operating an old school Big Wheel tricycle. Being that low to the ground is kind of like driving a Ferrari. One of the best parts of being grown-up is having the ability and the know-how to take awesome things from childhood and making them even...awesomer. I give you the grown-up version of the Big Wheel, with alloy V-Brake and levers, a plush custom seat, a pneumatic 26-inch front wheel and molded 14-inch plastic wheels to promote epic Power Slides. Plus tassels! I don't know about you, but I want one. …
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23 Super Snowman Building Tips
I put on my snow pants, boots and mittens and scoured the vast wastelands of the Internet to uncover a whole bunch of neat tips for making your next snowman the envy of the neighborhood. Please keep in mind that these tips are for building a traditional snowman, which is typically three snow balls placed on top of each other. If you want to get all crazy and create some elaborate snow sculptures, this is not the post you're looking for. These tips are for those times when you want to roll old school. …
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 quote I related to most: "We started running, and I hated it immediately, like I always did." Skipping. The alternative holiday weight-melting activity for Adultitis-fighting anti-runners. …
Christmas Vandalism
According to Wikipedia, "Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, an ancient Germanic people, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable." Most of the time vandalism is mean and perpetrated by jerk heads. But what if an act of vandalism is done is a spirit of cheerfulness and actually adds or enhances beauty? Is it still called vandalism? …
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. …
Dad Sends Son’s Train Into the Stratosphere
This is a cool story (and video) of how a dad sent his son's favorite toy train into the stratosphere. Pretty amazing what one can accomplish with a weather balloon, an HD camera, a GPS-equipped phone, and a little imagination. And after watching the video, it appears as though the train had the time of his life. Hat tip to thekidsshouldseethis.com …
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Small Rebellion #5: Pajama Run
It’s time for another official Small Rebellion (a small but mighty act of defiance against Adultitis and the rules that don’t exist)! Pajama Runs are great, because they fit into busy schedules, allow you to break a few “rules,” and for the price of a few simple ice cream cones, you get to create a memory you will never forget. The Mission: Put simply, a Pajama Run is when you surprise someone by taking them out for a late-night ice cream treat in their pajamas. In fact, EVERYONE involved needs to be wearing pajamas. Anyone can play -- you can “kidnap” your kids, grandkids, parents, or friends -- and you can include as many people as you want. Bonus points if the people you surprise are already in bed (feel free to wake them up with pots and pans and wooden spoons or some appropriate music). For best results, maintain the mystery by keeping the destination a secret for as long as possible. If you have kids and you’re feeling extremely rebellious, do it on a school night. Are …
Does Your Car Have a Kite Compartment?
I think it’s funny that even as our cars get more high tech, outfitted with GPS systems, heated seats, and hands-free calling, they still come equipped with glove compartments. Glove compartments! Although the glove compartment in my car is jammed with a great many things -- manuals, napkins, straws, ketchup packets, pens that don't work, and the like -- gloves are not among them. I got thinking about glove compartments when I was in Houston a few weeks ago for a speaking engagement. One of the audience members talked about a friend’s dad who always carried a few spare kites in the trunk of his car. That way, whenever they were out driving during superb kite-flying weather, they could just pull over and have some fun. And oftentimes, he would hand out kites to children. …
