We had some speaking programs in Utica, NY last week. When asked what Utica is known for we were told that 50 years ago it was quite the hang out for some talented good looking guys, known as the Rat Pack. It's also a neighboring town to Rachel Ray's old stomping grounds and has a number of authentic Italian restaurants that serve the local favorite, chicken riggies (which I tried for the first time... Yum!). We've been doing a lot of two night events lately and we're starting to see a trend. The second night something interesting happens... the people come alive with childlike enthusiasm. …
Play
Brett Favre: The Childlike Quarterback
I live in Wisconsin, which means we're still dealing with the fallout from the retirement of Brett Favre. Most of the Land o' Cheese is in an official state of mourning, which I doubt will end anytime soon. I said "most" on purpose, because I, my friends, am a Chicago Bears fan. Living as a Bears fan in Green and Gold country is no easy task. But the load got a little lighter when Number 4 announced his retirement last week. As a Bears fan, I hated Brett Favre. But as a football fan, I respected him. And as a human being, I downright admired him. A perplexing dichotomy, to be sure, …
Tip of the Week: G’Day Mate
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #25: G’Day Mate. Talk in a phony voice or accent to a complete stranger. Apparently I have quite the Wisconsin accent these days, even though I was born and raised in Ottawa, IL, 90 miles SW of Chicago. I know what did it! While teaching in Stoughton, WI (known for it's Norwegian ancestry) for five years I was surrounded by native Wisconsinites on a daily basis. In fact the person in charge of the announcements for the PA system had a very thick accent, almost more like Northern MN, North Dakota. My o's will never be the same, …
Tip of the Week: Spin Cycle
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #27: Spin Cycle. Take a routine you do everyday and put a childlike spin on it. Routines are great for a lot of reasons (says the retired Kindergarten teacher), but they can easily shift into ruts. "The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions." -Ellen Glasgow The idea I am going to share is something we've passed along at our speaking programs. Most mornings within the first twenty minutes of your routine you can tell what kind of mood you're in, hence determining what kind of day you're ultimately going …
Grandma Goes Out To Play
Folks in the UK have reinforced my believe that a childlike spirit is something you can carry with you your entire life. Indeed, the moment you set your childlike side on the shelf is the moment Adultitis gets a stranglehold and life starts to suck sour grapes. Last week, Britain's first playground for the over-60s set opened in Manchester. Now, when Grandma takes her grandson to the park, all bets are off as to who'll have the most fun. Instead of things like slides, this playground has equipment specially designed to work the hips, legs, and torso. Besides a great way to stay in shape, …
Happy Snow Day!
Wisconsin kids were happy again this morning. Another snow day! This is the second one in two weeks... every kid's dream come true! When I was little one of my favorite children's books was "The Day Daddy Stayed Home" by Ethel and Leonard Kessler. It's told from the child's point of view, about a snow day in which school is called off and Daddy can't get to work either. The child and Dad spend the day together playing out in the snow. They say that the anticipation of something is often better than the actual happening. Reading that book over and over was an example of great childlike …
Tip of the Week: Funjection Device
This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week), is #30: Funjection Device. Figure out a way to bring some fun into a dreaded task today. “My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first one being — hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.” -Erma Bombeck Amen, Erma. Thank goodness for wrinkle release spray! My least favorite chore (besides grocery shopping) is laundry. I shudder to even think about it and inevitably end up procrastinating until I have one lonely pair of unmentionables left. This challenge will help you get beyond the dread by adding a little …
Happy Belated Birthday, LEGO!
Monday was the 50th birthday of everybody's favorite building material. LEGO artist Sean Kenney -- is that a great job or what? -- whipped up this birthday cake as an homage. (Yep, it's entirely made of LEGO bricks!) Sean has an impressive portfolio of work -- gotta love this Homer Simpson sculpture -- and has nearly one million LEGO pieces in his workshop! Great job, Sean! And happy birthday, LEGO! …
The Etch-A-Sketch Inner Child
Sometimes the assumption is that all of this childlike stuff is reserved for those artsy, creative "free spirits." Not true. We all could stand to be a little bit more childlike; it's just that it looks different depending on the type of person you are. Take the Etch-A-Sketch for example. It is regarded as one of the classic American toys. My brothers and I had one growing up, but I never really got into it. Now that may come as a surprise to you, considering my artistic nature. But here's the deal: my brain is not an Etch-A-Sketch brain. It doesn't think in horizontal and vertical …
Exercising in the Cold, Plan B
As many of you know from the watching the big Packers vs. Giants game last Sunday, it's freakin' cold here in WI. I've resorted to Plan B for my daily exercise. If you remember Plan A consisted of piling on layers like everyone's favorite kid brother, Randy, and sucking it up for my daily walk. I've made the executive decision that losing sections of my face to frostbite is not my idea of a good time. I am thrilled to share my new exercise routine. Necessity is truly the mother of all invention. (Thanks to Libby and Shirley for the inspiration!) It's called... The Charlie Brown Dance …