The Challenge: Do something to make the world a better place.

Kim:
I think the world is made better one person at a time. I thought about the people I know and someone very specific came to mind – a man who I think makes the world a better place each and everyday. He is a youth minister in a nearby church and Jason and I have had the privilege to see him “in action.” He is such an awesome role model and the genuine friendships he has with his students are definitely impacting the lives of these young people for good. We spoke to his students and it is obvious that they are inspired by his dedication and leadership. He and his family make many sacrifices for him to work in that job. It is tough to live on a church salary as the breadwinner and raising a handful of kids, but he is committed to his students and his ministry.

I think people like this need to be thanked for their impact. Often, they don’t hear enough how much their lives are affecting others. So, I typed up a letter to him (without signing my name) and told him how much he inspires me. I wrote some of the specific things I’ve observed him doing to help make the world a better place. I encouraged him to keep going, even through the hard times.

I wish I had the money to include a big check in the letter, so that him and his family could go on a weekend getaway to WI Dells or something. I do have a coupon book that has some coupons for free things in the area. So, I included a handful of coupons for free ice cream, gourmet coffee, cookies, etc. I hope the note brightens his day and inspires him to keep making the world a better place- one person at a time.

Jason:
I made a real effort to tackle this one with the mindset of a child. Maybe it’s the retired superhero in me, but it seems to me that if you ask a kid to do something to make the world a better place, his first thought would be to think big. As in “whole world” big. This made me feel pretty insignificant; after all, what could I do to make the “whole world” better? Not even Oprah has THAT much reach. But I know someone who does, which is why I turned to prayer. I think God’s got the most pull of anyone I know.

Ah, but what to pray for? My thoughts eventually turned to the Middle East. To be honest, I don’t have a lot of hope for the Middle East in general. I think it’s an Adultitis enhanced form of cynicism that has developed in me over the years. I mean, that entire area has been a hot bed for violence since the beginning of time, what hope do we have for peace? But that’s not how a child would look at it. To a child, ANYTHING is possible. He would send his prayer up to the big guy, fully expecting a positive response.

So I pulled out my rosary, recited the prayers I learned back as a kid in Catholic school, and tried to muster up as much optimism as possible for the Middle East. I prayed that good things would continue in Iraq, and that God would help that area blossom into a beacon of peace for the “whole world.”

Idealistic? Naive? Perhaps. But very, very childlike.

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Write a haiku about the things you are thankful for and put it somewhere to serve as a reminder.

Kim:
Writing a haiku was tricky because I really had to choose the words very carefully. I can honestly  say that each of the words I picked were “gold” to me. Only having 17 syllables to work with was frustrating, but in the end I think it forced me to pick out the things in my life that I really am most thankful for.

So, without further ado, my haiku….(since I didn’t rhyme in the actual haiku, I thought it was a nice touch to rhyme here)…

God’s peace, grace, joy, truth
Jason, family, friends, health
Childlike faith, hope, love.

Jason:
I had so much fun with this, I wrote two haiku. I submit the first to the “delight in the little things” category:

ipod for my songs
rainy days for reading books
and stuffed crust pizza 

…and this one for the “let’s be serious for a second” category:

kim my lovely wife
a smile that cheers me right up
she likes noodles too

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Right an old wrong.

Kim:
My “old wrong” has to do with a promise I make to Jason and myself years ago. When Jason and I were just married we promised each other that we would stay “in shape” for ourselves and for each other. We were both in high school sports and tried to stay active afterward, but it was much easier to slack off and not exercise once we went through college and beyond. Life just happens and unless regular exercise if scheduled in, it just doesn’t happen. Two years ago Jason and I found a program that really worked for us: “8 Minutes in the Morning” by Jorge Cruise. I have been faithfully doing my 8 minutes of exercises every morning, but I know I also need to push myself further. I tend to do the “easier” exercises and skip out on cardio. Today I spent a while on Jorge Cruise’s website reading articles about health and fitness. I read that if you don’t have time to do cardio 30-45 minutes 5 times a week then you should do 15 minutes of interval training.

So I have made a new morning schedule which gives me more time, allowing for my 8 minutes, plus 15 minutes of interval training. I feel great about this recommitment to my health. I know that I always feel better about myself and have more energy when I make exercise a priority.

 
Jason:
Earl makes it look so easy. But maybe that’s because I don’t have a well of convenient store heists and have never faked death to break up with a girl. When thinking of a past wrong to make right, I went back to childhood for some less than stellar life moments. When I went to The Field Museum (see Challenge #18), I stole an arrowhead from the gift shop. I’m not really sure how to fix that one, considering I’m not sure that I still have the arrowhead — perhaps Karma took it back. But then I thought about my brother Dan. We had some pretty heated rivalries back in the day. I am responsible for a scar on his forehead that occurred when I threw a Fisher Price school bus at him. I also had a big hand in breaking his arm on a flagrant foul while playing basketball.

Well, Dan and I have grown up and have a pretty good relationship these days, but it occurred to me that I never really did apologize for some of these terrible crimes. I called him up this afternoon to apologize for the school bus incident, the broken arm debacle, and for generally being a jerky older brother. He accepted my apology with an outbreak of laughter. Silly, I know, but I do feel a little better to get that off my chest.

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Spend 10 minutes visioning yourself 10 years from now as having accomplished one of your biggest dreams. Be as detailed as possible; imagine in all five senses.

Kim:
One of my biggest dreams involves having a family, owning my dream home in the woods by a lake, and having our company growing and affecting peoples’ lives in a positive way. I spent my time visioning “moments” of this life. One moment was a late summer evening and  my family and I were out on our deck watching the beautiful colors of the sun setting, As we all lounged in our chairs, we could hear the crickets chirping and the soft waves from the water. I was sitting in a chair holding one of our kids, both of us wrapped in a soft fleece blanket to stay warm from the soft breeze off of the lake. I was holding a warm mug of hot chocolate. I could smell the pine trees, my child’s hair, the fresh air. As I sat there and took in the evening I was thinking about how blessed I was. I thought about our business and all that God has allowed it to become. I thought about the fun and creative office space we had just down the road. I thought about how much I love having kids and how much fun Jason and I have with them. I thought about how grateful I was to have this moment with my family on such a beautiful night. I can’t wait for that night!
 
Jason:
I used the 10 minutes to imagine my dream home studio, located in the upper level of our dream home. One of the walls is almost entirely lined with windows, providing a breathtaking view of a shimmering lake. It’s a late spring day, warm but not hot; a fresh spring breeze slipping through the open windows. The floors are hardwood, which feel cool to my bare feet. I’m sipping on a lemonade, sitting at my large drafting table. A few Kim & Jason strips sit finished next to a half-eaten cinnamon raisin bagel. Music is playing softly; a mix of Tom Petty, Jars of Clay, and Toad the Wet Sprocket, which reminds me of my college days when I dreamed of making it as an artist. The latest Mac is nearby — my guilty pleasure. Most of the other walls are lined with bookshelves, dotted with framed pictures of me and some of the people I’ve met over the years. A Reuben award (for best cartoonist) sits proudly next to some handmade handiworks from my children. I’ve always loved the way the inside of Jamba Juice smells, and Kim and I make it a habit to keep fresh flowers in the house, which is why the studio emanates a citrusy floral aroma. There is a smooth oak table near the center of the room. It serves as a spot for impromptu meetings, but is currently overrun by crayons, fingerpaints, and artwork made by my five-year-olds (yep, we’ve got twins!)

Ahhh…after a long, busy week, that’s not a bad way to spend 10 minutes.

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Get out of your element. Go somewhere you’ve never been before.

Kim:
Jason and I were pretty adventurous (and poor) when we moved to Madison almost 6 years ago now, so going for rides was a pretty cheap and fun thing to do. We soon got to know where we were going and since gas prices have spiked, our rides have been less frequent. So, my goal today was to go for a drive and to get lost. Really lost. It took me a handful of random turns to actually accomplish this, but eventually I wasn’t sure where I was. It was pretty fun! I drove around for about 15 minutes looking closely at the unchartered territory, noticing the different stores, neighborhoods, scenery. It was pretty neat. I felt like Lewis and Clark, except I was in my Grand Am with my favorite cd playing…but it was pretty close to the same feeling, I’m sure.
 
Jason:
I suppose the best way to prove to yourself that you’re somewhere you’ve never been before is by getting yourself lost. That’s what happened to me today. We live near the University of Wisconsin campus and I decided that I wanted to check out the Geology Museum. The big draw: dinosaurs. I remember being giddy with excitement when I was in third grade and we went to the Field Museum in Chicago. The big draw then: dinosaurs. I guess not much has changed.

After consulting a map, I thought I had a pretty good idea of where the place was. It took me forever to find a parking spot. I didn’t have a lot of time, which pretty much assured that I’d get lost. I did. It was like looking for the invisible man at night.

I was starting to give up hope — and my parking meter was starting to give up minutes — when a nice girl pointed me in the general direction of where she thought it was. I set off in the opposite direction, with one last chance  to find the museum before I had to head back to the car. I found it, and had a grand total of 12 minutes to explore. Luckily it wasn’t that big of a place, and like a sun baked –frostbit, actually — paleontologist, I discovered what I set out to find: huge skeletons of a woolly mammoth and a duck-billed dinosaur. Pretty sweet.

I got back to my car just as the parking nazi was about to notice my meter had finished digesting my change. Double sweet.

Then I was off to write. Considering I normally go to Starbucks, I decided to stick with today’s theme and try a new place — Ancora Coffee — where I am now typing this. And after a cold windy morning of walking, the hot chocolate I ordered was triple sweet.

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Learn how to do something new today. Your time limit: 30 minutes.

Kim:
It’s been a long time since I really learned something new. My Adultitis has driven me to a place I call “Rutsville.” Maybe you’ve heard of it? The days go by so quick. The schedule is jam-packed. There is no slot on my “to do” list that invites or allows me to learn new things. So, today I decided to learn how to tap dance. I think every child has pretended to tap with his/her “clicky” shoes on the kitchen floor. I thought it would be fun to learn a real move. Now, as you’ll see from the video, 30 minutes wasn’t nearly enough. I don’t own real tap shoes so I stole a page out of my childhood and found some “clicky” shoes to use — my new red heels I’m wearing in my sister’s upcoming wedding. They looked really good with my jeans. I’m so glad I didn’t break a heel.  For any of you who may be looking to learn some sweet tap moves check out my teacher’s tapping feet here. I just love that sound!
 
Jason:
I remember putting on magic shows as a kid. You know, for my parents. I’d dress up in a bathrobe (not sure why, exactly), set up a TV tray to be my table, and boom, I was a regular David Copperfield. (I’m sure he started out in bathrobes, too.) I do not recall one actual trick that I did, but the fact that they were spectacular should go without saying.

I decided that 30 minutes was more than enough time to learn a magic trick. (But not a very good one, I found out 20 minutes into it.) Not only could I perform it on today’s video, but I could amaze my nieces, who are coming up for a visit this weekend. Well, it didn’t take long to learn that the “super easy” coin tricks don’t work to well when you have the finger coordination of a giraffe and the grace of a three-legged elephant.

Happily, I was able to perfect a dancing paper clip trick that delighted me to no end. With the help of George Washington (in the form of a one-dollar bill), I can effortlessly join two paper clips with the greatest of ease. At the risk of engaging in a bit of hyperbole, it will leave you absolutely breathless. Eat your heart out, David.

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Call or meet with someone in your family and ask them a question you are curious about regarding your family’s history.

Kim:
My original plan was to call my oldest sister who lives in TX. I soon found out that she has been blessed by a visit from the flu bug and was in bed. Plan B worked just fine, as my original questions involved my brother-in-law also. So this gave me the chance to pick his brain a bit, which I don’t often have the opportunity to do. He and my sister have been married for over ten years and in their early days they lived on Ramen noodles in their small apartment, as they tried to build Gene’s business. Jason and I really look up to their accomplishments and appreciate the sacrifices they made early on to help to get them where they are today. (There is no such thing as an overnight success.) I asked him to tell me about the biggest challenges they had in those early days and what helped them get through it all. He told me some things that I hadn’t heard before. Knowing that Jason and I are still in our “early days” it was inspiring to hear what got them through it. I think sometimes pride gets in our way of asking others about their struggles and successes. We feel like we have to pretend we already have it all figured out. This challenge reminded me that there is so much I can learn from those around me. My brother-in-law’s golden nugget advice was to stay focused and enjoy the little things!
 
Jason:
My Dad’s letter from Challenge #12 inspired me on this one. (Yes, for those of you wondering, football free throw shooting Walt is indeed my father.) He wrote about his dad, my grandfather, and it occurred to me just how little I know about him. In fact, the first time I ever saw a picture of him was quite recently. His name was Walter, and he passed away when he was about 50; my dad was still pretty young.

So I got on the phone to my dad to see if I could dig up some more information about the one grandparent I never got a chance to know.

He grew up in LaSalle, Illinois on a farm, and spent some time as a factory worker and butcher before he settled in as a carpenter. According to my dad, family was the thing he cared about the most, and he loved spending time with friends and family. Apparently, he was a mighty fine euchre player and an excellent off-shore fisherman. My dad remembered him as a very social guy and recalled a funeral home employee saying, “Biggest wake I’ve ever seen for a lay person.” That really impressed my dad, and he estimated that he must have been a pretty good guy.

That point was driven home when I called my Great Aunt Rose in a quest to find out just how my grandma and grandpa met. My dad figured that she might be the only person alive who knew the answer to that one. Unfortunately, she didn’t either, but she couldn’t say enough good things about my Grandpa Kotecki. He thought the world of my grandma, Aunt Rose said. There was a lot of love between them. She did remark that Virginia wore the pants in the family 😉

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have such a nice kitchen. We didn’t have the means for it, but he remodeled the whole thing. He gave us free labor.” She said that my grandpa was a good hearted handy man, always doing favors for so many people. “He’d never charge them, either,” she said. “He was so generous, he was always helping out somebody.”

Looks like the mystery of how he and my grandma met will remain so, but as to why there was such a good turnout at his wake, that’s pretty obvious.

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek

The Challenge: Eat something you’ve never had before.

Kim:
When you’re a kid, it’s inevitable that you’re trying new things all the time. Sometimes after having to sit at the kitchen table for two stubbornly long hours. Well, as I walked around the entire grocery store, then walked some more, I realized that the things I haven’t tried in my 27 years have been for a very good reason. I just couldn’t get myself to pick up the little can of sardines. I almost puked just thinking about it. I am not that picky of an eater, so this was a challenge. Eventually I stood there in the baby food isle, deciding between beef and veal. I wanted to pick one of the meats, because, quite frankly, that is just nasty to think about meat in ‘baby food’ texture. I have never had veal before, so I thought this would be a good way to go. The video of me eating this is pretty graphic — total gag effect. It was far nastier than I even dreamed. It was so bland, yet smelled so strong. Meat should never be mushed. I almost spit it out. I know I would have if it weren’t for that video camera in my face.
 
Jason:
Perhaps you’ll remember the roasted soft squid from my visit to the oriental grocery store back in Challenge #1 (I know I’ll never forget it!) I was very curious about that stuff, and originally wanted to buy a package but alas, I had no cash on me. Well today was the day for my curiosity to be satisfied.

Kim picked up some squid for me while she was out running errands. I have to say, psychology got to me. Even though the food — and I’m using that term lightly — didn’t look anything like squid, I couldn’t get the slimy guy out of my head. I definitely know it’s all psychological, too, because I NEVER think of cows when I’m downing a juicy hamburger.

It tasted sort of like shrimp or crab, which I like, but in jerky format. Pretty chewy. I can’t say that it was terrible, but I certainly wouldn’t go putting this in bowls for my party guests, which is what the display recommended. I once heard that in most cases, if you try something three times, you’ll start to like it. Maybe I’ll take another stab at it this evening and I’ll end up becoming a squid jerky junkie. 

Dark Room Confessionals:
Bonus Video: Kim | Jason

So, who was most creative with today’s challenge? Who went beyond the comfort zone and put the biggest hammer on Adultitis? Who did a better job of capturing the spirit of childhood, Kim or Jason? Cast Your Vote!

Tomorrow’s Challenge: Audio Sneak Peek