Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas Traditions


When our now three year old was born, my wife started a great Christmas tradition. Each year, we go out and my son gets to pick an ornmanet for the Christmas Tree. We put the date on the back and then let him hang it on the tree. This year, we each picked an ornament, so that was different.

The great idea my wife has about this is that when our boy is old enough to be on his own, we will give him the ornaments, so he has some to start with. My wife got this idea from her mom that started this tradition. To this day, we have little ornaments that my wife had on her tree when she was a little girl.
Share any traditions you may have!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

The Social Network

If you're on Facebook then you have to see The Social Network. The movie is about Mark Zuckerberg, the creater of Facebook. It is an amazing story about a genius programmer and how he created The Facebook. Go see if if you can, and if you don't have the time, put it on your Netflix queue!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Waiting for Superman


My wife and I went to the movies last weekend and we saw Waiting for Superman. If any of you have kids or are planning on having kids, then this is a MUST see movie. The movie talks about the reality of how bad the public school system is in the country. It follows five children that range from kindergarten through eighth grade and their struggle to get into a good school in their area. It is unbelievable to hear that all of these children had to register for a lottery with terrible odds to have their children attend a good school. The public school system is broken and it needs to be fixed.
What frightens me the most is that because of the teacher's union, teachers can get tenure after a few years. After that, it is next to impossible to fire them. The stats were something like only 1 in 2500 teachers get fired. Not that all teachers need to be fired at some point or another, but like any profession, you will have great teachers and people that shouldn't be teachers.
There is so much more to learn from this movie. Go see it and come back and post!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Bring the World Cup Back to the US



I started playing soccer when I was 5 years old and have been playing ever since. I have taken some time off over the years, but still love to play. I even broke my leg 10 years ago and have a titanium rod in my leg and am still playing. Watching the World Cup with my 3 year old this summer was awesome. We were both cheering for different teams and somehow my son picked Spain early on and he was right. Check the link below and sign the petition. It would be great to have the World Cup back in the US. If it does come, then I will take my son to some of the games!


Last Saturday my wife get me tickets to the LA Galaxy vs Real Madrid match at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. There were players like, Donovan, Christian Ronaldo, Higuain, and more. It was a great birthday gift! Real Madrid won 3-2.

Bring the World Cup back to the US - http://www.gousabid.com/

The site is devoted to bringing the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup to the United States. I just signed their petition and you should too! Here's the address: www.gousabid.com/petition Look, we've heard it before -- Americans don't care about the game of soccer, other countries have better players, better fans and are more deserving of the games. Well, this is our chance to prove the doubters and the world wrong, once again. This is our opportunity to show the world we have a deep passion for the game. Be part of the grassroots movement to bring the FIFA World Cup to the United States. Thanks!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Does Your Playground Spark Creativity


I take my son Max to the playground almost every day between 5 and 7 to play and to burn off excess energy - his, of course - so that he'll rest peacefully - and hopefully, early - that night. Our interactions change each visit - sometimes we kick the ball, sometimes we go down the slide, sometimes we climb the ropes. In the end, my son knows pretty much what to expect - and that might be the problem. In this week's Time magazine, Harriet Barovik spotlights David Rockwell, designer of theater sets (Hairspray), restaurants (Nobu) and hotels (W), who "was so frustrated by the fixed nature of the playgrounds his kids frequented that he set out to reinvent them." Reinvent them, he did. Bringing in foam blocks, wheels, cogs and noodles, he put creativity back in the hands of kids, encouraging them to build and create their own playground and put simply, to get messy. Read for yourself....the story not only fascinated me, but challenged me to think more about the things I do each day with my child. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2007398,00.html . You can also learn more at Imagination Playground's web site.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Lemonade invented in August




To celebrate the first day of August, I thought I'd share this tidbit about half of my favorite drink - lemonade. (I'm an Arnold Palmer fan and appreciate a good lemonade in my lemonade and iced team combination). Lemonade was served for the very first time in August in Paris. In honor of lemonade's birthday, we're setting up our lemonade stand - (the little one in the photo) and probably going to drink all the profits. You should, too! You can find all kinds of unique (ginger, Italian, minty) and traditional lemonade recipes on the Food Network site or by clicking here:

Youth Olympic Games




Okay, so we're usually a little behind when we announce interesting events, but we read about this one and thought it'd be fun to keep an eye out for. Starting August 14th 14 to 18 year-old will participate in the inaugural Youth Olympics Games. Similar to the Olympics you've come to know and love, this event will be held in Singapore and will include 12 days, 3,600 competitors and 370,000 spectators. Although many think these games are not necessary - after all, skater Tara Lipinski took gold in the Olympics when she was only 15 years-old, Michael Phelps collected eight medals before the age of 20, the youngest gold medalist ever was American diver Marjorie Gestring who took a gold at the age of 13. No doubt the talent will be there and we'll be watching.

Why do kids always get sick at night?


Last night we met up with our neighbors and their three year old. We had errands to run and thought it'd be more fun if we did them together. We went to the library, the grocery store and even the ice cream shop. The entire time, our kids played together, running around, pushing the mini shopping cart's and dropping books in the book slot. We had no idea that just two hours later - and for the rest of the night - literally all night long - we'd be up fighting explosions emanating from all parts of our child. Why does it always seem like all is well and then in no time, things can change dramatically - and usually at night? Is there some parenting God that is trying to teach us a lesson? "I'll show them what tired is....I'll show them what worry is...."

It's the most helpless feeling to have. It's in the middle of the night, our child is vomiting and pooping nonstop, crying and with a temperature. We're tired, worried, trying to guess how to fix things. I remind my wife about the BRAT diet thinking it solves our problems, and yet after making toast, slicing a banana, and heating up left over rice, our child doesn't even take a bite. One of us takes to sitting with our child while the other changes the bed and towels for the 4th time. Nothing is improving our child's mood or ours. My wife and I are united in the need to help our son get better and yet snapping at each other each moment we have...I know everyone who is a parent goes through this...how do you cope? How have you handled nights like this? Recommended treatments or distractions? How do you stay a nice person when you are tired and worried? And why do kids only get sick at night?

Monday, July 26, 2010

Cooper - Domestic Dog Released into the Wild








The news is all abuzz about the humane society that turned away a domesticated dog thinking it was a wild, sick coyote. The dog was then set into the wild. The 11 year old owner is said to have cried nonstop. I understand how the mistake could have been made, but come on. I hope they find the dog before anything happens to him. Read more here...








Sunday, July 25, 2010

The Circle of Life - From Catepillars to Butterflies


One week ago, the local Kidspace Museum hosted a celebration of bugs...ladybugs, ants, spiders, oh my! They also talked about life cycles and handed out small caterpillars to everyone who wanted one. Over the past week our Caterpillar has begun to spun it's cocoon. So, we moved it out of the small container it was in and into a large shoebox with air holes and a cover. We are not sure how long before it becomes a butterfly, but we're on butterfly watch 2010. We'll upload photos of the cocoon as soon as I find the camera my three year old hid somewhere in the house.

Cool Sustainable Tourist Destinations


Okay, as a full time dad of a three year old, chances are great that I'm not getting to these places anytime soon, but I thought I'd share some cool sustainable destinations for the fun of it....

Whistler, British Columbia - take a zip line past rebuilt salmon habitats and hiking trails.

Queensland, Australia - help scientists research climate change in the rain forest.

New Forest, England - auto-free tourism villages have you sharing the road with cows and ponies

Guanacaste,Costa Rica - Protect and help leather back sea-turtle eggs.

For now, I'll pitch a tent and grow zucchini in my back yard....

When Baby Goes Poo in the Bathtub


Our son has been rocking the potty training. As soon as we shifted from diapers to underwear, he was ready to go in the potty. We had great pride that we had not had any incidence until two nights ago.

Every night before bath time I have my son try to go to the bathroom before lifting him into the bath. Two nights ago, he went before bath. However, 20 minutes later, in the bath, we had our own personal "Caddyshack" scene. We quickly took our son out of the bath, as well as the unexpected surprise and explained to our son why it's not a good thing to do. While my wife dried and dressed my son, I scrubbed our tub.

I have to believe we're not the only ones this has happened too, right??

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Home Gardens - is your soil full of lead?




So a few weeks ago, I decided to come up with a few projects that my three year old and I could do together in the yard during summer. He helped me clean the gutters (he stayed on the ground with a little sweeper), replaced the light bulbs (he handed me the new light bulbs) and we planted a vegetable garden. To my amazement (and lack of green thumb) we planted the seeds about one month ago and we already have zucchini the size of my shoe! We were thrilled to pick them and eat them as part of our attempt to get our child to eat veggies when a friend of ours asked if we tested the soil. Test the soil? Who thinks of that? We just wanted to do a fun project...now I have to test the soil. Well, she got us thinking...we did plant the garden next to the garage, but it was in our backyard - and we're sure that it's been a backyard at least since the 1920's when the house was built. Well, now I'm paranoid, so we're sending the soil off - and not eating the veggies just yet. We're sending the soil to Timberleaf Soil Testing out of Murrieta, CA. Apparently you put some soil in a ziploc bag and send it off. For about $60 they'll test for all sorts of bad for you items like lead and arsenic and other things. I've been told they get back to you in less than one week - maybe in time for us to eat our veggies! We'll let you know the fate of our garden as soon as we know!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Colorado St. Bridge Celebration: Pasadena, CA

Here's a post I found about the Colorado St. Bridge party in Pasadena. We went a few years ago and it was great. Great food and some good walking around.

KTLA Morning News Anchor, Michaela Pereira will host this year’s event
From STAFF REPORTSPublished: Sunday, July 4, 2010 4:02 PM
A Celebration on the Colorado Street Bridge will be presented by Pasadena Heritage from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm on July 10, on the historic Colorado St. Bridge in Pasadena. This summer party is guaranteed to be full of enjoyment with a range of activities for all ages, including cookie decorating and face painting, vintage car displays, music and food.
KTLA Morning News Anchor, Michaela Pereira will host this year’s event.
A Celebration the Colorado Street Bridge is an annual fundraising event of Pasadena Heritage, the second largest historic preservation organizations in the state. Funds raised support the organization’s education and advocacy programs throughout the year.
Discounted advance ticket prices: Pasadena Heritage member: $12 adults, $5 children (7-12 years), children 6 and under free. Non member: $13.50 adults, $6.50 children (7-12 years) , children 6 and under free
Day of event ticket prices: $15 Adults, $7 children (7-12 years), children 6 and under free
To purchase tickets or for more information contact Pasadena Heritage at (626) 441-6333 or visit our website http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Flying Car




I found this article on Yahoo Buzz and had to share it. I have a few questions about this "flying car". Is it safe to put a child's car seat in it? (no way I'm putting my kid in there) Who is going to control the air traffic? Are there going to be cops in the air now? What about drinking and flying, what's the law on that? As far as cost goes, not bad for under $200,000. Although this is a great innovation and a cool mode of transportation, I think it would be a challenge to implement this in our current infrastructure. Not so say it won't be done, but I foresee a lot of headaches down the road. Maybe by the time my toddler is able to fly or drive there will be spaceships that can get us to and from the moon in only a few hours...


Flying Car a Step Closer to Realityby Mike Krumboltz

Weird-looking cars are a dime a dozen. Far less common are weird-looking cars that can also fly AND have approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. Indeed, as far as we know, there's only one of those babies: The Terrafugia Transition.
The private aircraft/funky-looking car has been in the news before. But the recent announcement that it's going into production sparked mega-searches on the Web. Almost immediately, online lookups for "terrafugia transition" and "terrafugia transition pictures" both, well, took off.
A popular article from the UK's Daily Telegraph explains that the FAA's special exemption allows the vehicle to function as both a "light aircraft" and a car. Normally, for a plane to meet the "light aircraft" designation, it can weigh no more than 1,200 pounds. The Terrafugia Transition weighs 1,320, due primarily to the number of car-related safety features, like airbags and crumple zones. The "light aircraft" designation is key, because licenses for planes with that label require only 20 hours of flying time. Fewer hoops to jump through means more potential sales.
So, how does the plane/car work? Check out the flying car's official video below. So far, 70 people have placed a deposit. The total retail cost: $194,000. Expensive, but really, can you put a price on skipping commercial flights?

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

We're starting a new preschool tomorrow - wish us luck

This past year we had taken our three year-old son to a co-op. Although the teacher was wonderful and we would not replace the experience with anything else, the board at the co-op was going through a very rough period resulting in the resignation of the school's director. So, we investigated other schools and found one that is 10 times better - I'm talking daily music classes and misters over the play area. Yes, misters! I tried to prep my little one today for the new school, but all he keeps talking about is his old school. I'm nervous to drop him off tomorrow - so wish me luck!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Buying Meat from a Vending Machine???


I've seen t-shirts, make-up, even underwear (Japan) - who knows why - sold in vending machines, but meat? Yes, it's true. A butcher shop in Northern Spain, has figured out a way to simplify their business by adopting modern technology. The owners installed the refrigerated machines to provide customer service when the shop is closed. Genius or salmonella waiting to happen? http://www.restaurantdiningcritiques.com/spain/izarzugaza-100-year-old-butcher-shop-embraces-new-technology-spain/



Omaha with Toddlers and Newborns - If it's good enough for Warren Buffett...


My wife is from Miami, went to school in Boston and now lives in SoCal. I grew up in Tulsa, travel frequently to New York, Dallas and have lived in Southern California since college. I was not sure what to expect from Omaha, Nebraska. Well, I could not have been more wrong. I'll admit my view may be slightly tainted by the fact that I was visiting my new 3 week old niece - and what is more perfect that a cute and cuddly new little one (especially one you can hold and play with but not have to worry about changing!). My sister-in-law and her husband moved to Omaha about a year ago when he was transferred by his company, Yahoo! , which was looking to open a new branch in the area. Omaha is a small city - you can probably drive the entire city from east to west in about 30 minutes tops and there is almost no traffic. Being from L.A. where traffic is a nightmare, it was such an awakening to see that there are towns where traffic is not even an issue - yes, a place where your day doesn't begin and end with road rage. My sister in law stayed home to take care of the littlest edition to our family, but my mother-in-law was able to take us around town. We were surprised by how much there was to do for kids. The first day we took our three year old to the Omaha Children's Museum. Being a "big city snobs" we expected it to be a small museum without too much to do. We were so wrong. It was huge with tons of fun stuff to do - water play, instruments galore, and an entire second floor made over like Bridwell Island from the Clifford series, complete with visit from Clifford himself. The second floor also offered a carousel which the kids loved. We then went to Omaha's Old Town section, which is designed to reflect what the town must have looked like in the 1800's (enough to place yourself back in the day) but made over to reflect a cute shopping and dining area full of art galleries, boutique stores and great restaurants. Truly adorable.

The next day we visited the Durham Museum, which has more trains (Union Pacific was created an continues to be headquartered in Nebraska), and offers an overview of Omaha's history - including famous Omahans like Tom Brokaw, Abbott & Costello, Johnny Carson and of course, Warren Buffett. Speaking of Warren Buffett, we drove by his house. You would miss it if you didn't know better. Apparently one of the world's richest men lives in the same house he's lived in for over 35 years. It's a nice size, but not more than an acre and a half of land. A FAR cry from the mansions of Bel Air, Pasadena or Greenwich, CT. Without a gate protecting the house, I actually worried about the Buffett family's safety. When it comes to dining, we ate as well in Omaha as we would have in any major city. We ate a fabulous mushroom truffle pizza at Pitch, in the adorable town of Dundee. We had an amazing ice cream for desert at eCreamery, which allows you to personalize logos - the perfect gift for anyone. In fact, the town was hosting the College World Series and had created special ice cream flavors for each of the teams in town. One place we did not make it to was the Henry Doorley Zoo, which is considered one of the top zoos in the country behind the San Diego Zoo and National Zoo, which my sister in law said kids just love. Anyway, the list goes on and on, and I won't lie, there were some 70's parts of town - many 70's parts of town, but needless to say, it was a lovely town and a lovely time. I'd suggest checking in with the Omaha Visitor's Bureau before going, though, to make sure you hit these hidden gems.

Washington DC with toddlers



We were away from our computer for a little over a week visiting my two year old niece in Washington D.C. and my new, 3 week old niece in Omaha Nebraska. We had an amazing time as both cities offered tons to do for kids.
We started the trip on the plane, which was more fun for our three year old than anything else on the trip. When we arrived in DC, we traveled to Alexandria, Virginia, where my sister-in-law lives. We spent the first day touring the monuments. It was great fun for us - you get such a sense of history and magnitude when viewing the White House and all the important offices that surround it, the EPA, DOJ, etc. - and it gave the kids plenty of space to run around. We did an amazing amount of walking from the White House, to the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War monuments. Although we had a stroller, both of the kids spent most of the day walking. The next day we visited Baltimore, MD - a short hour and a half drive from Alexandria - to visit the Smithsonian Train Museum. (Yes, my son still loves trains). From there we visited the Aquarium, which is a mix of a regular (amazing) aquarium and Sea World, complete with Dolphin and Shark shows. We wanted to visit the Spy Museum, but was told it was for kids starting around age 6, so we skipped it. (I've heard amazing things about it, so we'll be back in three years!) There were plenty of restaurants along the way that catered to kids and provided an all-around amazing experience. I worried my son as a little too young to fully enjoy DC, but he loved it - and having another 2 year old to wear him out, was a blessing!










Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there


Just sending a note to every dad out there to wish you all a Happy Father's Day!

I'm looking forward to a delicious lunch with my wife and son and a chocolate lava cake for desert tonight! Yes, I'm hungry as I am writing this. But whatever you do, we hope you have a wonderful day.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Last Minute Father's Day Gifts






Let's face it. Father's Day is an important holiday, but one that does not seem to have so much forethought as Christmas. People spend months talking about Christmas, shopping at the mall for the perfect gift, but people always seem to be rushing to purchase gifts for Father's and Mother's Day. Thank goodness for the Internet! Not only has it made shopping easy, but its made shopping smarter, too. Sites like Red Envelope are great because they provide last minute shopping and shipping, and offer a variety of classic, fun and unexpected items. For example, the folks are Red Envelope were offering select dad bloggers an opportunity to experience Father's Day in a new way, inviting us to select any product for trial. Looking for an opportunity to do select something that created an experience for my and my family on MY DAY, I had a tough time choosing between the home brewing set (complete with mini keg), the family conversation table topics and the picnic backpack. We often visit the Huntington Gardens near our house and attend their summer concert series where we get to picnic while the kids run around on the park grounds, so I selected the picnic backpack. We have a picnic backpack that we typically use and I'll admit that I would not have purchased a new one had the Red Envelope offer not been extended, but I am definitely glad I chose it as an option. The entire backpack is insulated and stays nice and cool for nearly three hours! (Perhaps it stays cooler, but we only picnicked for three hours). The straps are extra thick making it easy to carry - I would even say comfortable enough for a long hike up the Rockies. The silverware is nice enough to elevate any wine and cheese picnic, but are not so heavy that you become angry at the manufacturer for not thinking about your needs - why put heavy silver when the product is going to be carried on your back. This blogger is traveling this week visiting relatives and is unable to upload the photos of our family picnic so I'm including a photo of the picnic from the site. However, I fully recommend this gift to anyone looking to give dad the perfect gift - one that naturally opens up the opportunity to get outside together and share time together.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

RESIDENTS CAN BECOME WATER-WISER AT PWP’S H20 ACADEMY


Pasadena Water and Power experts will teach residents how to outsmart the current water shortage at a free workshop Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Salvation Army Pasadena Tabernacle, 960 E. Walnut St.
The three-hour seminar will cover:

· Top 10 ways to save the most water and money indoors and out
· How to conduct a home water audit and compare yours to average and efficient homes
· How much water is right for your landscape
· How to keep your landscape healthy through the hot summer and change of seasons
· How to check for water leaks and what to do if you find one
· How to read your water bill and meter
· How to test your soil
· What alternatives to traditional landscaping work best for Pasadena’s climate
· What efficient irrigation devices like smart controllers and drip irrigation can do for you.

Each PWP customer who attends the workshop will receive a water-saver kit valued at $40, and PWP water customers will also have a chance to win a “smart” irrigation controller, with installation, worth $650.
PWP customers may register at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater or (626)744-3715.

McDonald's Shrek Recall and Anonymous Tip - This Blogger Isn't "Lovin' it"




McDonald's is asking anyone who purchased a Shrek glass to return it to McDonald's. The fast-food giant is paying $3 per glass - one dollar and one cent more than the consumer purchase price. You can find out more about the recall in this link here.

Recall aside, does anyone else find it strange that this all came to light as a result of an "anonymous tip." Who called in the tip? And how did he or she know the glasses were bad? And why didn't McDonald's know they were bad glasses before they began selling them?
I'm certain of one thing, McDonald's should use it's muscle to work with company's that create safe, BPA-free - and cadmium-free products for families.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Chinese paint their dogs to look like pandas, tigers in new fad


One of my sister-in-laws sent me the link to this story and I just had to share it. The article is from nationalpost.com and it is a keeper. If we had a dog, I would have to paint it to look like Baby Jaguar from Go Diego Go! Note that no animals were harmed during the typing of this email. The links have more great pics!

By Jodi Lai June 8, 2010 – 11:39 am
It’s so passe to put your dogs in purses and buy them designer clothes these days.
In the newest pet fad, dog owners in China are dyeing their mutts to resemble pandas and tigers, the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph reports.
Chow Chow dogs that normally have golden fur are being dyed white and black to resemble fluffy pandas. Golden Retrievers with light blonde hair are painted orange and given black stripes to look like tigers.
Oh, I love how China’s burgeoning middle class spends its money on the bizarre. More cute/ridiculous photos after the jump.
A Google search for “dog dye” frighteningly returns 2.7 million hits. There are hundreds of websites that instruct pet owners how to dye their dogs’ fur.
The Daily Mail reports that spending in the U.K. on pets has increased by 500% from 1999 to 2008, at the expense of the animals’ dignity, of course.
Check out this horrifying gallery of pooches dyed in every colour the rainbow has to offer.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Hilarious Ad for Huggies New Jean Diapers

I was working in my home office when I heard my wife and toddler laughing at something while watching "Max and Ruby" on Nickelodeon. I ran in to see this commercial for the new Huggies limited edition jean diaper. Thought you'd find it funny, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ0M9CBEkw0

Auto Club Child Safety Seat Education Class - June 22


AAA clubs nationwide will be hosting child safety seat classes in June to help show parents how to choose the proper child safety seat for their child and install it in your car. They'll also review rules for child car seats so that parents can be sure they are following the law. In Los Angeles, there will be a session at the Los Angeles Auto Club brand on Figueroa Street. TO RSVP, you can call 714-885-2312.

Max funny


Yesterday we were walking by our local City Hall when we saw a man riding on a bike with a parrot on his shoulder. My wife said "look at the man on the bicycle. He has a parrot on his back." and my son said "mama, he's a pirate" which made us burst out laughing.

National Trails Day - Get Out And Hike!


June 5 is National Trails Day so it's a great opportunity to get out and go for a hike with the family or even a walk around the block. A lot of outdoor stores like REI are offering promotions complete with local trail maps for all hikers - beginners and experts alike. Just remember, if you are hiking with a baby or toddler to set expectations since distance - or getting to the waterfall - might not be a reality when little ones are with you. Also, remember sunscreen, lots of water and good shoes. And most of all, have fun!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Are strawberries actually lady bugs?


A quick, cute story. I received an email from a parent of one of my child's classmates today inquiring if my son did not like strawberries? I said no he doesn't and then asked why?

She told me that she had brought strawberries for snack and that he said "please don't put any on my plate. I don't like them." I laughed that my son had said that. The mom then said that her son did not eat strawberries until last month because until that point he thought they were ladybugs! Funny.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Panera Bread Non Profit Restaurant


Panera Bread announced something I thought was just amazing - a non profit restaurant concept with a corporate social responsibility concept. The pilot restaurant, St. Louis Bread Co., offers consumers the chance to pay what they want for a meal. Yes, pay what you want. The CEO says this is a concept based on community kitchens where consumers set the price. The pilot restaurant is run by a non-profit foundation. If it sustains financially, it will expand across the U.S. Here is more on the story, but in the meantime, I applaud Panera Bread - and hope people do not take this as license to get free food, but rather see it as an amazing opportunity to make a difference in an incredibly easy way - just show up and eat and pay the regular price. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37213165/?gt1=43001

Wordless Wednesday

Here's my version of Wordless Wednesday. Some random photos that I thought I would share.

I was at the park with my boy and we saw this lady walking down the path and we heard some squawking. It is hard to see, but if you look at the backpack the lady is wearing, there is a small bird, probably a parrot in there. There's a first for everything. I was working down by the 710 fwy in Long Beach a couple weeks ago and I was stuck in traffic. When I finally drove by the accident, I saw the problem. Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but the truck driver lost his mobile home on the turn. Imagine making the call to your boss after that happens. "Hey boss, you'll never believe what just happened, and no I wasn't speeding!" I still don't understand how this accident occurred, because with that turn, the load should have fallen in the other direction.