Top Five . . . Songs That Always Make Me Think of My Dad

My dad has a very eclectic taste in music (Read: everything from The Who to Enya).  Because we spent most summers trekking back and forth from Omaha, NE to Denver (one of the most boring rides in the world), we needed something to keep us sane.  Since it was pre-portable DVD players and it was my job to keep my dad company, I got to experience his extensive musical taste and it definitely influenced part of my own.

In honor of Father's Day, I give you the Top Five songs that always make me think of my dad:

5.  "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" by Don McLean

"Starry Night" was my favorite painting as a kid.  I had a huge poster of it in my room and I was always fascinated by the one-eared Vincent Van Gogh.  My dad was the person that introduced me to this song and he remains the only person I know who is familiar with Don McLean songs other than "American Pie".

4.  "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" by Meat Loaf, featuring Karla DeVito

Dad thinks this song is hilarious and should be played at every wedding ever.  I have distinct memories of him cranking it while we ran errands on the weekend.

3.  Any song from Queen's "Night at the Opera" or "The Game"

We wore these tapes out on road trips.  Travel tip:  Any road trip can be made infinitely better by rolling down the windows, blasting Queen, and singing at the top of your voice.

2.  "Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)" by Billy Joel

We danced to this song at my wedding.  I picked it because my dad's childhood nickname for me was "Angel" and he's a big Billy Joel fan.  (I also enjoy Billy Joel - I spent an entire summer in our basement listening to The Stranger over and over on our ancient record player.)

1. "Nostradamus" by Al Stewart

I associate this song completely with my father.  It was another tape we listened to on our road trips and it always got us talking about what the song meant, and by extension, about history.  I occasionally catch it on the radio and I always smile because it makes me think of my dad.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Dad reading to me (my favorite picture of us)

Getting ready for the Father-Daughter dance

Walking down the aisle at my wedding.

I Heart: The Father's Day Gift Guide Edition

 Father's Day (June 19th) is quickly approaching, but there's still time to get your dad a cool gift.  Here are my picks for awesome Father's Day gifts:

$20 and under:

Official Geek Dad bumper stickers - The dad in your life can advertise his geekiness to his fellow motorists with these hilarious bumper stickers.

Binary Dad T-shirt - If your dad is a computer guy, he'll appreciate this T-shirt with "Dad" written in binary on a blue background.


The Geek Dad's Guide to Weekend Fun and Geek Dad's Geeky Projects for Dads and Kids - These helpful guides can stave off boredom and encourage quality time together.

Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics - Barnes & Noble offers beautiful hardback editions of classic literature for $20 each.  For dads, I recommend the Sherlock Holmes collection, the Jules Verne collection, and the Ray Bradbury collection.

$50 and under:

Batman Money Clip - A mini folding batarang with a magnetized grip to keep Dad's cash (and your allowance) safe from super villains.

Star Trek Cufflinks - Beautiful silver plated cufflinks for Dad's geeky formal wear.

Night Sky Monopoly Edition - A space-themed Monopoly game that will both educate and entertain the whole family.

Case of Bawls - The gamer's energy drink of choice, it comes in 4 flavors: regular, cherry, sugar-free, and root beer.


$100 and under:

Neverlate Executive Alarm Clock - The perfect alarm clock for busy dads.  It has up to 42 alarm settings and is completely customizable.  There are 20 available radio presets and an MP3 player input.

Darth Vader Cookie Jar - The best part of the Dark Side?  They have cookies.

Stainless Steel Wallet - Made from tightly woven stainless steel fibers, this wallet is both durable and comfortable.  Perfect for the dad who is hard on wallets.

Razor Naga: MMO Gaming Mouse - An ergonomic mouse with 17 MMO-optimized buttons.  A must for hardcore gamers.

Last Minute Ideas:

If you're down to the wire and don't have time to have something shipped, consider these:

• For comic book fans:  Anything from his "pull file" at your local comic book shop
• Subscriptions to his favorite magazines
• Gift cards to frequently shopped stores (including webstores)
• Gift card to a favorite restaurant
• Gift of the month clubs (wine, beer, coffee, etc.)
• A paid year subscription to online games, Netflix, or Xbox Live

The Kid Question

I've been with my husband for almost nine years - we dated for six and have been married for almost three.  Of course, there are people who periodically ask whether we plan to have children.  This question in and of itself does not bother me, but the reaction to my response occasionally does.

I have never been a "kid person".  I knew from a very early age that I did not want children and I have been honest about my feelings when I am asked the "kid question."  Surprisingly, my friends with children never give me grief.  It is usually people I've just met or casual acquaintances who have issues.  They tend to look at me with a mixture of horror and pity, as if the concept of someone not wanting kids is so completely alien that they cannot comprehend it.  When they ask "Why?", I usually try to navigate the awkward conversation tactfully with a tinge of self-deprecating humor.  Inevitably, people who push the issue will say "But kids are so great!", "Once you have your own child, you'll understand.", or "Oh, you'll change your mind eventually!" 

It may not be their intention, but by looking at me with pity or saying I'll change my mind, these people are saying my choice isn't valid.  That isn't the case.  I can be satisfied with my life and feel fulfilled without having a child.  Ultimately, what I don't understand about this kind of reaction is how one-sided it is.  It's not as if I approach people with children and say, "Why would you want to have kids?"  If I did, these people would be highly offended, and rightly so.  Who am I to question their life choices?

It's also a matter of knowing what I'm good at, and by extension, what I'm not.  Some people just aren't cut out to have kids, and I happen to be one of them.  On the maternal instinct scale, I rate about a 2.5 - on my best day.  I'm also a neurotic mess.  I worry about everything, I have weird phobias, and I don't like messes.  That's not the best environment to raise a kid.  The way I see it, I was extremely lucky to find a partner that's willing to deal with my issues.  Do I really want to push my luck by throwing a child into the mix? 

I can usually brush off the disparaging reactions by reminding myself that these people don't really know me, but there is one statement that makes me angry.  I've heard from several people that my decision to not have children is "unfair" to Kris because he would make such a good dad and I am denying him that opportunity.  For the record, Kris would make a great dad.  He's got a big heart, he's fun, and he's really good with kids.  I'm sure if we had kids, he would be delighted.  But he's also an adult, and from the very beginning of our relationship, I made my stance on having children clear.  I gave him several opportunities to end the relationship if having kids was important to him and each time I brought it up, he said he was fine either way.  The bottom line is that my decision to not have children has nothing to do with being fair or unfair to Kris.  He loves me enough that he chose to be with me, even if it means he won't have children of his own.

For those of you who have any doubt, trust me.  I love my friends' children.  I enjoy seeing their pictures and I love spending time with them.  I also love my life.  I feel complete with Kris and I am sure of who I am.  No pity or convincing necessary.

Just Call Me Charlie Brown

I have a confession: I haven't really been in the Christmas spirit this year. It's shocking, I know. Most of my friends know I'm a huge Christmas fan, but this year I feel like I've just been going through the motions. I could blame it on (until very recently) unseasonably warm weather, or the prospect of facing that one gift receipent who inevitably looks at their present with disdain, but truthfully it all comes down to cold, hard cash.

Last year, with two full-time incomes, we had a pretty lavish (for us, anyway) Christmas. Not this year. I've done the bare minimum of Christmas shopping due to a severe lack of funds. My favorite part of Christmas has always been finding that perfect gift for each person on my list, but I feel like I can't do enough for the people I love this Christmas.

Now, obviously this kind of thinking misses the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is, at the very least, about the love of your friends and family and coming together to spend the holiday with them. The gifts are incidental - or they're supposed to be. Yet, working in retail, especially at a high-end store, I'm reminded of how little we're giving this year.

In spite of this though, as I sit here looking at the Christmas tree, I am suddenly and pleasantly surprised by the number of gifts under it. Even though I wasn't able to purchase everything I wanted to give this year, each item was selected carefully for the person for whom it was intended and I'm sure that everyone (with the exception of that one difficult to please recipient) will enjoy their gifts.

Better still, I have many gifts of my own - wonderful husband, a loving family, awesome friends, and two adorable kitties. Instead of moping about money (or lack thereof), I'll be following Bing Crosby's advice during this last week before Christmas.

Tricks 'n' Treats

Happy Halloween!

Here's the Mad Scientist with his latest creation . . . the Chicken-Cat!!!
(Kris with our beautiful cat, Sullivan)

Photo by Erica Clark

Not In the Christmas Spirit YET? I'm Here to Help.

First, an adorable picture of my cat, Darby, in a gigantic Christmas gift bag.

And now . . . "The Carol of the Bells, Muppet Style

That is all.