Father's Day Prize

Mystery bag from Fletch



The card: Dinosaurs, planes...



and bugs.



He certainly knows what I like.

Also, it appears I've won an award.



I'm glad I have the chance to spend the day with the best kids in the world.

All That Matters

my darling girl
my darling girl
you’re all that matters
in this wicked world
all that matters
all that matters



my darling boy
my darling boy
all of my sunshine
and all of my joy
you’re all that matters
all that matters



well, i can’t stop the pain
when it calls
i’m a man
and i can’t stop the rain
when it falls, my darling
who can?



my darling girl
my darling girl
you’re all that matters
in this wicked world
all that matters
all that matters



my darling friend
my darling friend
all we’ve got going
is love in the end
it’s all that matters
all that matters

Mark Knopfler
Shangri-La

Repost #2: Overheard at Friendly's

Repost #2 from my MySpace blog:

Original Post: June 23, 2006

True story

The other day I went to Friendly's with my six year old son, Fletcher. I detest Friendly's unless it's 10:30 at night and I'm craving ice cream or cheesy fries, but it was a treat for him. The hostess seated Fletcher and me in a two person booth. I hate these too. The waitress was taking her sweet ass time coming to our table and I noticed the guy across from us. He was seated after us and was already eating. I would guess he was in his sixties... a little stooped and weary.

He looked lonely, like maybe his own son was grown and moved away and his wife had died and he was living all alone in the big house that he'd bought her just after they were married. He would glance at Fletcher and a wistful smile would cross his face while Fletch told me the stuff he'd done in school that day. He was undoubtedly remembering those same conversations that he'd had with his son, before time and other obligations stripped him of everything but his memories.

After a while it became obvious how much interest he was showing in our conversation... living vicariously through me.

me: "Wanna go get some beer?"
Fletcher: "No."

The guy kind of smiles.


me: "Wanna go to the horse track?"
Fletcher: "No." frowning

The guy laughs a little.


me: "Wanna go pick up some girls?"
Fletcher: "No." scowling

The guy audibly laughs.


me: "Wanna kill a hobo?"

The guy nearly choked on his burger.

I don't care who you are... don't eavesdrop on my conversations. You might get more than you bargained for. Especially if I'm hungry.

Disclaimer: We didn't actually kill a hobo.

Jamestown

May 14, 2009

Jamestown
By Jack, Fletcher and Alyssa J

This is why Jamestown is important. Jamestown was the first English colony. The settlers came from England. They came for silver and gold but they couldn't find anything. Instead they found Powhatans. The settlers made friends with the Powhatans and helped each other. That is why Jamestown is important.

Happy Easter!

How Old Is Too Old?

I'm not one for Christmas songs. As a matter of fact, it's just about this time of year that I want to go all Falling Down on people when I walk into a place and find Christmas music blasting. There are exactly two Christmas songs that never elicit this response... Snoopy Vs The Red Baron by The Royal Guardsmen and Father Christmas by The Kinks... two rather diametrically opposed approaches to the holiday season.

In fact I often find myself singing Father Christmas... in front of the kids... which has prompted strange looks from them.

When I was small I believed in Santa Claus
Though I knew it was my dad
And I would hang up my stocking at Christmas
Open my presents and not be glad...

See... we've never had The Talk with Fletcher. We almost did last year. We almost did this year. I don't think he really believes any more, but he also hasn't given us the "I'm in on the joke" thing when Blythe talks about Santa.



It's strange for me, because I had older brothers, I was disabused of the notion of a fat guy in a red suit coming down the chimney rather early on. That and the fact I'm sort of a pragmatist deep down. Fletcher is a dreamer. But he'll be nine in January and frankly, if he does still believe in Santa, I'm concerned about his gullibility meter.

So now I'm left in a quandry. Do I let it go? Or do I take him to the park where I told him that my dad died and that Arthur died and tell him Santa Claus is dead too?

No Lazy Sunday

Some kids play soccer... or baseball. Fletch tried those. I'll be honest with you... I don't think he's ever going to be much of an athlete. There are worse fates.

But today, Fletcher rocked the house.

A couple of weeks ago, Britton asked Fletcher if he'd be interested in falconry. She'd seen an ad in the back of Valley Kids for quite a while and thought it sounded like something he'd like to do. Fletch agreed... excitedly. So this morning we made the trek up to Hadley to New England Falconry.

We came up on a typical New England field, barn and all...

From Falconry Class

Look close along the tree line... there was even a deer watching us. Chris Davis, the falconer, got the birds ready for us.

From Falconry Class

First we were introduced to the birds. They are Harris' Hawks and are native to the southwestern U.S.

From Falconry Class

There were two adult birds and one juvenile.

From Falconry Class

We were then shown the equipment... and how it is used.

From Falconry Class

From Falconry Class

Chris put on his vest with the bag of meat and selected the adult male to get him prepared for the session. He attached a radio transmitter in case the hawk decided to make a break for it.

From Falconry Class

He showed Fletcher how to release the bird.

From Falconry Class

And how to hold your arm and let him land on the glove.

From Falconry Class

Pretty soon, Fletcher was doing it with his assistance... just a little flinch.

From Falconry Class

And then all by himself.

From Falconry Class

By the end of the session, Fletcher looked like a pro.

From Falconry Class

From Falconry Class

From Falconry Class

Falconry Class from Joe Bullock on Vimeo.

I'll admit... I was a little jealous. I can't wait for his next class.