New Look... New Purpose.

It's been a while... to say the least. 
Long Island Dad is back and better than ever! 

The new look embodies my new purpose; a blog dedicated to the challenges of being a parent in today's world and what it takes to raise children with traditions and values. No small feat but I'll try...

This re-purposing was inspired by the latest political climate and what I believe is a lack of leadership and role models for today's children. We, as parents, can only do so much. Because of technology and access our children are being exposed to an entitlement mentality that's permeating every corner of our society.

Today's issues are complicated. There is a rising sense of uncertainty about our future... and if we can feel it so can our children.

I'm here to offer my two cents - for what it's worth - on today's "hot" topics. From Common Core curriculum to the 2016 Presidential Election and everything in between. Please feel free to comment on any and all of my posts. For the only thing that can affect change is an open and honest dialogue about our problems.

Long Island Dad is also on Twitter - please follow me at @linydad

Thanks for reading. As you can see I have kept all my archives active so you re-read all my previous posts. While they are mostly an anecdotal snapshot of my experience as a parent, some of you have found them entertaining.

-LID

@linydad

Arts & Leisure

This Saturday night, March 10th, 2007, Long Island Dad and The Mommy will be attending an “Art Evolution.” While I’m by no means an art aficionado, I know what I like and I know great pieces when I see them...

Artist/Designer Brian Kirhagis uses his unparalleled talent to create unbelievable interpretations of life and experiences. For an example of what I’m talking about please visit his personal site at www.brikart.net and click on the "Originals" link at the top of the page.

Brian is also the head designer and president of BrikWork, Inc., a full service design, video, web and graphics company. He and his team bring a unique perspective to this field. Whether you’re in the market for a new company logo, fresh looks for your website or some video work please visit Brian’s company at www.brikwork.net.

I hope you have the chance to visit his “Evolution” next week.

Please click on the flyer below to enlarge it for details, or visit www.brikart.net for more information.

Where ‘Ya Been?

Recently, some of you may have noticed a decline in posting frequency here at Long Island Dad. This is due to some added responsibilities taken on by yours truly. I have been asked by the Executive Director of the Long Island 2 Day Walk to Fight Breast Cancer to help out with some administrative computer work.

Needless to say, this is an honor. While I can’t participate in the walk itself (someone has to watch the kiddies), this is how I can help. I’m home anyway. I will help this great cause in any way I can. So some of my precious “alone, undisturbed computer time” has had to be redirected.

This, combined with, some craziness of schedules here at the ranch has caused a down tick in postings.

As I’ve always said, one of the best ways to teach our children charity and compassion is through example. While we continue to instill a sense of drive for success in our children, this must always be paired with a sense to help others. In building character; the two go hand in hand.

I’ve always tried to “do my part.” My children see this and hopefully will mimic these actions as they enter their adult lives.

My wife and I have very little time to devote to worthy causes so we chose "our" causes very carefully. The Long Island 2 Day Walk to Fight Breast Cancer is a cause we’ve been 100% committed to since its inception. Long Island has one of the highest incidents of breast cancer in the country. 100% of the proceeds from this walk stay right here on Long Island to help fellow Islander’s afflicted with this terrible disease. This particular walk has little to no overhead because of many generous local sponsors – this ensures the maximum amount raised go directly to those who need it most. Nobody involved with this walk takes any compensation. This makes it different from most other fund raisers around the country.

Unfortunately, being a Long Islander this disease has affected our family too. We fight on behalf of those who can no longer fight!

Thanks for understanding.

Long Island Dad will continue to post as frequently as I can. The Helper’s not going anywhere and I’m sure he’ll be up to something shortly.

Happiness Is… Hot Water!

Not to be outdone by Drama Mama’s recent post regarding her adulation for her new floor cleaning apparatus, I wanted to let you know LID has a new appliance that trumps even the best vacuum (and I’m a huge fan of my Dyson knock-off by Hoover, don’t get me wrong)…

A Brand New High-Efficiency, Digitally Controlled, Hot Water Heater.

Hot water for the washing machine, hot showers, using the dishwasher without worry… these are just some of the things my new hot water heater can do. His predecessor served the house well for over 20 years. His time had come. In order to get hot water, I would have to tinker with the burner on a daily basis and then cross my fingers, pray and then drink a beer to overcome my frustrations!

But now… in this age of all things digital… this machine anticipates need, call and adjusts to demand automatically… never leaving someone with shampoo in their hair! Ah…. Modern wonders! And, if that wasn’t enough, supposedly it will cost me a third of what the old one did to operate… the hits just keep on coming!

For those of you who are into this sort of thing… like I am, its recovery rate is 114 gallons per hour. That translates into hot shower after hot shower… continuously… forever! Not to steal anyone else’s thunder… but… Oh, The Joys!!!!

Okay, I’ve gushed enough about an inanimate object.

I need to return to my duties… perhaps a load of dishes in piping hot water that will never run out! Damn… I can’t stop myself!

An Open Letter of Thanks...

Dear Angel, Angela, Mike, Janet, Jessica, Jeff, Keith, MBI, Karly, Stephanie, and Terri, and to all of you who “lurked” and didn’t comment but sent your well wishes anyway,

Thanks for your comments and words of support, as well as all your prayers. They have certainly helped… a lot. It’s nice to know there are people who care!

I’m a big believer in positive thinking and prayer… it works.

My Dad is much better and should be going home today. After a battery of tests showing nothing seriously wrong it was concluded that a change in his blood pressure medication might have caused his stroke. It seems when you get older any change in regulation of such an important thing can have side effects… serious ones.

His only problem was that his hospital room is directly across the street from his golf course. His room actually overlooked the first hole. Not good for him, someone should have really thought about that. But, yesterday, before they played, all his buddies stopped in to check on him. That was great! Although, when they left I’m sure he was thinking of ways to go with them… in fact I know he was.

Thanks again,

Chris

P.S. We will now return to our regularly scheduled programming. Unfortunately, Tool Box Thursday has been pre-empted until next week. But I’ll come up with some silly sit-com featuring the Helper to fill the void.

Missing Post Note

If you came looking for "Warrior, Patriot, Man... Father" it will be back up soon. I need to do some photo and layout editing. I wasn't happy with the layout or quality. Thanks - CF

Then The Phone Rang...

Yesterday, I was supposed to post my installment of Tuesday’s Truth. I had a funny list of stuff to post for the “libations” section and was working on some great links.

But then the phone rang.

Not an unusual occurrence around here, but the caller ID showed a number I vaguely recognized.

It was the number of one of my father’s best friends. Actually, it was his cell phone number.

I answered the phone... it was my father.

He lives in Palm Harbor, Florida, which is just north of Clearwater Beach. I started off with the usual, “How’s it going down there?” I was curious as to why he was using his friend’s cell phone, but thought his battery might be dead. A phone call from the golf course is not unusual for him.

Much to my surprise, his normal witty retort about the weather didn’t come. Instead he said, "Not good."

He had a stroke.

He had lost control of the entire right side of his body.

He is 77 years old.

By the time he was able to call me, the feeling and sensation to the affected areas had returned. Good news!

He will remain in the hospital for a few days to undergo a battery of tests.

I got another phone call last night from my step-mother. (My parents divorced when I was 8 years old.) She told me he was finally in his own room and gave me his number, but not to call him because he was wiped out and was going to sleep.

I agreed to call him today.

I know he’s in good hands; my step-mother is a doctor of nursing education, as well as, a registered nurse and a former associate professor of nursing at the University of Massachusetts.

She also informed me that his “buddies” had immediately rushed to his side. His golf buddies, his poker buddies and he was joking with them all. He was concerned that he would miss last night’s weekly poker game and today’s round of golf. More Good News!

I was working on another “father” post to follow “Grandfathers.” It was going to run next week. But, I think I will finish it today, as time allows, and post it as soon as it’s done.

I look forward to sharing my father’s story, as he is a man who has fascinated me my entire life.

Stay At Home Father Survey

I got this the other day and am just getting around to posting it... please check it out:

"My name is Dr. Aaron Rochlen and I am a Dad and an Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Texas who specializes in research on men and masculinity. My research team is working on a study of Stay-at-Home Fathers. In particular, we are studying how men adjust to this new role and how it impacts their lives and relationships.

The study uses an online questionnaire that should take no longer than 15-20 minutes.

It really should be an interesting experience to complete the surveys - and it is definitely a much needed area of research!! The study has been approved by the IRB (Institutional Review Board) at UT."

SURVEY LINK: http://www.hostedsurvey.com/takesurvey.asp?c=SAHF

Some Quick Notes...

A new Stay-At-Home-Dad blog has just emerged. Our very own Working Gal’s hubby, Big Papa, has created Big Papa’s Place. If his first post is any indication of what’s to come, Mike and I will be getting a run for our money in the levity department. But then the Talker and the Helper could use the competition. Go check it out! This is one funny, funny Papa!

Our dear friend, Jessica, of Oh,The Joy’s, posted a beautiful letter to her grandfather today. If you’re up to it, go check it out! Our continued thoughts and prayers are with her during this difficult time.

The Helper has left for an overnight stay at Nannie’s. This time it wasn’t my idea. The Mommy needs the time to catch up on some of her household duties tomorrow – her first day off in a while. Besides, he’s already bounced off all of these walls. The change of scenery will do me him good! Hopefully, he’ll keep the cursing to a minimum.

Whew! Maybe I can wait until payday on Friday to pick up that new fish. Hey, every 29¢ counts folks!

www.longislanddad.com

If you're reading this it really dosen't matter how you got here, but I wanted to annouce that Long Island Dad, still hosted at Blogger, now has a new domain name -- simply:

www.longislanddad.com

While it makes no difference now, it may in the future as I develop another site. So for now longislanddad.blogspot.com and longislanddad.com are one in the same.
Also I have a new email:

CBF@longislanddad.com

Thanks for reading!

Merry Christmas To All!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Thanks for reading! Enjoy the day!

Long Island Dad Gets "Re-Printed"

One of my latest articles, “’Real’ Men Do Cry” was recently re-printed on LongIsland.com. LongIsland.com is Long Island’s largest website for information exchange; from things to do here to classifieds to advice, it’s really one stop shopping for anything we need to know about the beautiful place we call home. It’s an honor to be considered a local “expert”. Imagine me, an “expert” – go figure! It’s nice, though, to have another venue for people to read my musings. If you get a chance, check out the re-print below:

http://experts.longisland.com/families

An Official Member Site of LongIsland.com
Long Island New York Web Community