My Summer Vacation

With Cole heading back to school soon, I know that he will be asked, "So, what did you do over summer vacation?". As a form of travelogue and memory jogger for him (and me) I wanted to capture the great weekend trips we took this past summer.

Hershey Park - Without a doubt the most fun I've had in a while. The park is fantastic if you are a roller coaster fanatic and the chocolate doesn't hurt either! We stayed at the Hershey Lodge and had free shuttle bus service to the park and attractions much the same as a stay "on property" at Disney. Except when you check in at the Grand Floridian they don't give you chocolate bars. The Lodge had a special check in just for Cole which was cute and the room was comfortable. The restaurants on the property were however terrible and the breakfast buffet was particularly bad. I think the next time we go to Hershey we will try the Hershey Hotel which is a bit more upscale. On the way to Hershey we stopped at the Crayola Factory which was a perfect way-point on the road to Hershey. Legal fireworks on the way out of Pennsylvania sealed the trip with a bang!

Boston - I have been to Boston several times on business in the past few years and was so enamored with the city I decided to take the family up for the weekend. We stayed at the Hilton Financial Center conveniently located near Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market as well as the New England Aquarium and Children's Museum. We spent the first day at the Children's Museum which was a great way to get Cole acclimated to Boston. The Museum is far better than the nearby Bridgeport or Norwalk museums and I think I enjoyed myself as much as Cole did. We dined at one of our favorite (chain) seafood restaurants Legal Sea Foods after spending the day at the Aquarium. I have to say that I was a bit taken back by the "Market Price" for my lobster, but what can you do - easy come easy go. We finished out the trip with a ride on the famous Boston "Duck" boats. An amphibious ride around the sites of Boston followed by a cruise up the Charles River. A city I definitely wouldn't mind living in...

Cape Cod - Our annual summer pilgrimage to Cape Cod found us at a new hotel this year - the Town Crier Motel. Nothing fancy, but we bought into a "Whale Watch" package that included breakfast buffet each day, a dinner voucher for the Lobster Shanty, and passes to the Dolphin Fleet whale watch tour. I had some great recommendations from a friend of mine as to beaches, restaurants, kettle ponds, and side excursions that Laurie and I hadn't hit in our last six summer trips. The first of which was a swashbuckling pirate adventure aboard a ship out of Orleans. Cole was in heaven shooting cannons at an aptly named pirate "Stinky Pete". We went on the whale watch out of Provincetown on the second day and hit the beaches the third with a trip to the Wellfleet flea-market on the fourth and final day. The recommendation's of Cahoon Hollow beach and Mayo beach were right on the money for the extended family this go around - despite the "heart attack hill" death march back up to the car. Next year I think we will rent a house for the week and try that out. So far we have tried a B&B, hotel, motel, and camping - might as well try renting!

Thank you Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny made his annual appearance this morning and brought Cole and Gavin a new twist in Easter baskets - sports bags. Cole received a baseball full of jelly bean while Gavin had his eggs stuffed into a soft sided basketball. What will they think of next? Not sure if you can make it out in the picture (click for a larger version), but the Easter Bunny seems to have an issue with too much foot powder - maybe athlete's foot?

We were also able to impart upon Cole the true meaning of Easter this year. We have recently joined a local church and Cole has been attending Sunday school regularly. With Gavin's birth, it has become more important than ever for us to be sure that we expose both of them to religion and let them make the choice when the time is right.

By Popular Demand

Recently I have been getting a lot of requests for updated photos of Gavin and I am reminded that I am being remiss in this department. To that end, I have updated photos at Flickr and uploaded a brief conversation with Gavin in the videos section. He will be appearing on Larry King Live sometime next week - stay tuned.

Happy Birthday Cole!

Cole turned six years old today and if this is news to you, I'm surprised - I figured he must have told everyone on the planet by now. Every person we came in contact with from the check out clerk to the bus driver was given the countdown to Cole's birthday starting from about mid October. He is so darn cute...

Photos of the birthday extravaganza at Devon Duckpin Bowling can be found in the photos section - or by clicking here.

Our Christmas Cheer

Our Christmas cheer came early this year... Gavin has been such a wonderful addition to our family. Cole is so excited about having a little brother, however he sometimes exaggerates the amount of his brother's crying when asked. I have to say that he very rarely wakes me up with his crying and typically lets out something that sounds more like "HEY!" than a true baby bawling. With each passing day he extends his nighttime slumber by another half hour or so and we may be up to a full six hours before long...

Laurie took the liberty of dressing Gavin up in some holiday threads and placing him on a bed of (fake) snow for our Christmas card shots and I wanted to post one of those here. More photos of Gavin can be found at his Flickr set - here.

Football... You Bet!

While I am not a big fan, and prefer solo sports like skiing, sailing, and golf, Cole and I attended the Yale/Princeton football game yesterday with the rest of Cub Scout pack 164. He was lucky enough to earn a flag football belt loop and pin for his uniform - his first. I am fairly sure that Cole has never watched a football game from beginning to end (actually I'm not sure I have either), but he was able to learn five referee signals, the offensive and defensive positions by name, attend a football game, and play a game of flag football all in the course of an afternoon - with a little help from Dad, of course.

The "pack" met at Tashua school early in the morning where the football craziness began. Kids were running back and forth across the parking lot, dodging oncoming traffic, and playing catch - what a scene. We then caravaned to the Yale Bowl for some pre-game tailgating and a game of flag football. The YMCA was nice enough to donate the supplies for flag football and the kids played for about a half hour before we had burgers and dogs and went in for the game.

We had free tickets for the game and when we went to pick them up we noticed that they were in the "student" section. Well several of the parents had reservations about sitting in the student section with a bunch of rowdy coeds - then came the realization - oh yeah this is Yale. The majority of Ivy league merry making and drunken debauchery was limited to waiving the embroidered flag of their house "crest" and gawking at each others pithy Yale vs. Princeton is better than Harvard t-shirts. How droll...

Happy Birthday Gavin

This morning at 9:32AM, Gavin Jacob Dowling was born. He was 8lbs 8oz and 20" long. The cesarean went well and Gavin and Mommy are doing fine. There was some concern early on about the amount of fluid remaining in his lungs and the "grunting" sound he was making instead of crying. His cries sounded a bit like our cat Bailey at first, but the doctors, of which there were about twelve in the operating room, assured me that this was normal. An hour or so later they had evacuated the fluid and he was crying as loud as any other newborn. Laurie will most likely come home on Sunday and I am holding down the fort until then.

When Gavin was born, the joyous rush that I had felt when Cole was born almost six years ago, filled me again. Tears of joy and an overwhelming feeling of being especially blessed came over me in waves. The excitement of being a father again and watching Gavin grow and mature has filled me with eager anticipation as well as some fear and a bit of trepidation. Will I make the right choices? Will I do the right thing? Will he turn out like me? God's will, not mine, be done.

At first we didn't know who he looked like more, me or Laurie. But as the hours passed it he began to look more like Cole (which means more like me - God help him). He has deep blue eyes and light brown hair - about as much as Cole had when he was born. The Dowling genes are very strong. Laurie thinks that he actually looks like a cross between Ally and Cole. Which is good because Ally and Cole (and Krissy, too) are the cutest kids I know. I am, however, somewhat bias.

Boo!

Halloween around here has been fun in the past - but this year it was special. Why, you ask? Well it seems that Halloween has now come on par with other great holiday's like Christmas in the mind of my son Cole. Months of preparation leading up to the big day. Selecting the costume, planning the costume purchase, buying the costume, trying on the costume - all of these events seemed to hold monumental importance to little Cole.

Inspiration for the costume can only go to the affect the Disney Pirate's of the Caribbean marketing engine has had on him. From seeing "Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Dead Man's Chest" to actually seeing Jack Sparrow run through the crowd as we waited in line at the ride in the Magic Kingdom - he was all consumed with being a "skelakan pirate". His wishes came true and I have to say that the costume was very convincing - even if he did use a Peter Pan sword. We are truly a Disney family.

Pumpkin Picking

We piled the kiddos into the van and went to the Jones Family Farm today to pick pumpkins. Ally, Krissy, and Cole where very excited to pick out their very own pumpkins and carve the heck out of them. We had been to Jones Farm a few times earlier in the season strawberry and blueberry picking and were expecting to ride the hayride (typically free of charge) out into the fields and begin our hunter gatherer routine foraging for pumpkins, except. When we arrived at the farm it was overrun by people. People who looked like they were from out of state (New York) judging by the license plates in the parking lot. There were literally hundreds if not thousands of people here snatching pumpkins and other assorted gourds.

The kids were happy to mill about the pre-picked pumpkins and find one that suited their carving needs but we HAD to ride the hayride (a small fee required for this pleasure) and who was I to say no. Problem was that there were very few pumpkins to be had out in the fields, Laurie was eight months pregnant, and we rode the whole way around the field without getting off - completely confusing Cole who was sure that the Great Pumpkin was not going to visit him if he didn't exit the conveyance immediately and secure a pumpkin. Once calmed, we let them nestle into the pre-picked pumpkin patch for some much needed photo opps.

Leader of the Pack

Cole has joined the local Cub Scout den and the first order of business was having a pack wide golf outing followed by a campfire. He was so excited about being able to wear his uniform we didn't have the heart to tell him that he didn't need the "official" Cub Scout pants - he had to have the whole effect. The campfire was located deep in the woods here in Trumbull and Laurie and I had to 4x4 the Honda down a pretty hairy trail to access "ScoutLand".

Once settled in, we began by singing songs and telling ghost stories (none very memorable) until it was finally time to roast the marshmallows - the penultimate Cub Scout pleasure. It was a bit rowdy, but a quick "Signs Up!" by the scoutmaster got everyone in line - if only for a few brief moments. Cole is really looking forward to all of the other Cub Scout outings planned for this year - we even get to sleep on a battleship. Sounds great. 50 screaming kids in a steel echo chamber... But as long as he is happy - that's what really matters.

Major League

Cole is officially in the major leagues - little league that is. He has made the Farm team for the Texas Rangers here in Trumbull and I couldn't be more proud. He should have started out in T-Ball but through the luck of the draw (or administrative oversight) he ended up on the Farm team and is playing with the "big boys" - meaning no T and coach pitch.

He has been adjusting well and you wouldn't know that he had jumped a level at all - not really. He had a minor mishap when the ball deflected off of his bat and hit him in the cheek. The next weekend went and bought him a new glove (bigger) and a new helmet (with face guard).

Santa's Note

Santa left Cole a note on Christmas morning thanking him for the sweet treats. Santa has a bit of work to do on his penmanship though - kind of third grade... I guess this is what keeps Santa coming back to our house each year. That, or the fact that Cole is always a very good boy.

Santa was good to us all this year. Cole got a snowmobile for ripping down the slopes, a Resuce Hero Mission Select Action Command Center and a Hot Wheels track that has a car eating gorilla with a double loop. Laurie and I took it easy this year with some reading material for me and a cook book and boots for her.

Merry Christmas everyone!

On Santa's Lap

The season is upon us and Cole took time out from his busy schedule to go and visit the big man - Santa. With a birthday and Christmas all in the same month, Cole has a lot of good things coming his way. But, it is up to Laurie and I to try to impart the real beauty of Christmas - time together with family. While we will not be spending time with my family this Christmas, I know that we will be surrounded by Laura's loving family and I will try to make the most of it this season.

Cole got an early Christmas gift from Nana today and went into NYC with his cousin's to see Peter Pan. They were also headed up to the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. I, however, am working at home due to the transit strike - oh well.

Wiggles Mania

The Wiggles were in town and of course Cole had to go. Well, actually, Laurie and I wanted to go just to see how crazy Cole would go after his last show at Madison Square Garden. We got great seats - fifth row. And the Oakdale Theater is a great venue, but Cole wasn't as into it as he was last tour. I think his Wiggles days are just about over.

The kids in his Kindergarten class have already outgrown Barney (and ridicule those that still cling to the purple dino) and a few shun the Wiggles as well. Cole did have a really good time, but it was obvious that he was a bit self concious about dancing as frantically as he did in the past. He was always checking over his shoulder to see what the other kids were doing and gauging his response from theirs. It was a little like being in a boring section at a Dead show where no one was dancing and feeling akward about enjoying yourself...

Spooky Scary Halloween

Cole decided to dress up as a firefighter this year (go figure) and was joined by a princess, a pirate, a witch, and a dinosaur. Oh yeah, and a big giant tiger (Storm). The haul was pretty good this year and the weather was nice. We have been trick or treating in Kim and Zoli's neighborhood for the last four years and Cole always has a great time.

There is a spooky house that has a great big spread for Halloween and each year Cole and Ally were always scared to go up to it. This year it didn't seem to phase them much, although the special effects were fairly good. The yard was filled with life sized ghouls, ghosts, and monsters - complete with a fog machine and spooky soundtrack. Personally, I am always a bit scared of these types of displays. Not because of the monsters, but because of the people that spend the time to do this. Call me a Halloween scrooge, but it's a little odd.

A Series of Firsts

This September Cole experienced a series of firsts. His first school bus ride, his first day of school, and his first soccer game. I can't believe our son is growing up so fast. Laurie and I had some firsts as well. The first school open house, the first PTA meeting, and the first panic attack when your son doesn't show up at the bus stop after school... Everything worked itself out but let's just say I do not have an extreme amount of faith in the Trumbull school bus system.

Cole's first soccer team is called the Locusts and his first game went off great. Cole scored a goal and was all decked out in his new soccer attire with a big 92 on his back. I think they won their first game against the Grasshoppers - but after all its not about who wins or loses...

Cole absolutely loves school. His teachers name is Ms. Byers and he attends morning Kindergarten. He has written two books and will be the star of the week next week. We get to fill a box he painted with remembrances of his brief but exciting childhood before Kindergarten to share with the class. They grow up too fast.

USHRA Monster Jam

Cole and I experienced the thrill and excitement of Monster Truck racing today at Bridgeport Harbor Yard. Well, excitement and thrill may be overstating things just a bit, but it was LOUD. I suppose the excitement came from the anticipation that one of the Monster Trucks would crash into the end of the arena. As this is probably one of the smaller venues the US Hot Rod Association (USHRA) visits, the possibility of a crash was pretty high. Fortunately (or unfortunately) no crashes occurred.

Cole and I were able to pick up some of the lingo during our sojourn into Monster Truck nirvana - like 'Sky Wheelie', 'Super Doughnut', and 'Freestyle Jam'. And Cole definitely had his flag waving skills honed as he conducted the Monster Trucks (along with the hundreds of other children) in their Freestyle Jam session (poke your flag up and down spasmodically for a 'Sky Wheelie' everybody - it's fun!).

All in all, the Monster Jam was an enjoyable Father/Son outing. Cole was able to gain a new hero (Grave Digger) replete with die cast action figure and custom Monster Truck conducting baton (flag with a skull on it) and Dad was able to spend some precious moments with his Son - all to infrequent these days.

Blizzard of 2005

Cole and I had a great time frolicking in the snow and sledding down the driveway this morning (check out the video). We got about 10" of snow but the drifts were almost two feet! I think the cold was getting to Cole - he was going cross-eyed.

Next week we are taking him to Vermont for his first skiing adventure. I can't wait to see him hit the slopes...

Christmas Spectacular

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is something everyone in the NYC area should see at least once. Some people even make it a family tradition. Schleping into the city every year to see Santa and the Rockettes re-enact Christmas stories however is not my idea of a tradition...

Albeit everyone had a good time, the whole thing ran a bit long. I almost fell asleep during the second act! We had good seats in the second mezzanine and the whole perspective was quite enthralling. Who knows, we might go back again next year - is that a tradition?

Santa Comes To Town

Santa Claus came to town today, well the next town over anyway. We all went to Monroe to see Santa ride in on his sleigh - a fire truck. Cole was mesmerized to say the least. His favorite person riding on his favorite vehicle - Christmas nirvana. The whole event was a benefit for Bridges of Hope. Cole entered and won a raffle for three matchbox cars. Another of his favorite things...

Books Cook!

The Family went in to NYC today to see the Scholastic presentation of Books Cook - Holiday edition. We had a lot of fun the first time we went when I first joined Scholastic and we were not let down this time either. The stage was done up with fake snow and a Christmas tree. Although the book selection was not as fun as the last time we went (Three Nasty Gnarlies) Cole had a great time nonetheless. We were in the front row and he got a little freaked out by the actors coming so close to him. There was just a bit of overacting going on... think Jim Carey times 10.

We also had a chance afterward to hit my favorite pizza place in little Italy - Lombardi's Pizza. The pizza is to die for and if you haven't been, you haven't had pizza. Lombardi's opened in little Italy as a grocery store in 1897. It was established as the first pizzeria in America in 1905 with New York's issuance of the mercantile license. Fabuloso - can't wait to try the calzone...

Cole's First Show - The Wiggles

The Wiggles took the stage at Madison Square Garden and Cole immediately made a bee line for the aisle. He erupted into a frenzied dance the likes of which I had never seen. He was in "the zone".

It reminded Laurie and I of all the Dead shows we had been to - well the really good ones anyway. Where everything around you disappears and you are one with the music. Taking inspiration from the players in a mystical theatre of life. For Cole, it was probably wasn't not so ethereal, but I know he would not have rather been anyplace else. To him, The Wiggles had become a "band beyond description".

We started the day at Toys R Us Times Square - invariably the best, if not the largest toy store in the world. Cole was taken with the life size animatronic dinosaur (it's a T-Rex Cole reminded us) as well as the full size ferris wheel occupying the center of store. Laurie and I were amazed at the selection of toys available. Most stores have one or two of the most popular items in a series, but here they had EVERY item in the series. They had an entire Spiderman section for heavens sake... Needless to say Santa's list filled up very quickly.

After toy nirvana we went to Mars. Mars 2112 that is. For those that have never been, think Disney with diner food. We started our journey with a spaceship ride to the restaurant base station of Mars. Cole wanted nothing to do with the aliens that mingled about, in fact I think he wanted to turn tail and run when he saw the green, bugged-eye monster waiting at the entrance. But we were able to coax him inside and eat a martian flying saucer - a pepperoni pizza.

A quick cab ride later we were headed into the Garden to Cole's first show and I was reminded of the thirty odd times I had been there before to see the Dead. Little did I know it was going to be as emotional, spiritual and rewarding for him as it had been for me.

The Circus is in Town

We took the whole clan to the Circus today to revel in the fireworks, calliopes, and clowns - and to enjoy some family time. The blithe laughter that surrounds you at the Circus is amazingly regenerative after a long week commuting to New York City. Cole still thinks I work in Bridgeport were the train station is and as we pass he says, "Here's where Daddy works?!?" I keep telling him that I work for Clifford the Big Red Dog and that Daddy takes the train into Manhattan but doesn't actually work on it - although I have given some consideration to being a conductor after a particular brutal day at the office...

The 133rd Edition of Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus was a spectacle for eyes and ears and a true wonder to behold. We went to the 132nd edition (???) last year and were expecting pretty much a rehash, however we were pleasantly surprised. We went a little early to take advantage of the Three Ring Adventure before the show but it was extremely crowded early on and Cole wanted to escape the mayhem - so did Daddy. Back at our seats (fourth row center ring) he told me he wanted to "go up 'dare" and pointed to the upper sections. When asked why he stated, "...'cause I don't want the clowns to get me..." I then spent the next ten minutes explaining that the clowns were there to make him laugh and not to scare him. But as I looked around at the clowns mingling in the audience, twisted faces and gesticulating wildly - I kind of got creeped out myself and resolved to tell Cole, "...don't worry Daddy will protect you."

When the Circus started Ally, my niece, sat beside me next to Cole and the three of us began yelling, clapping, and screaming as instructed by the Ringmaster. As the Circus proceeded, Ally and Cole stared in amazement at the procession of animals, dancers, acrobats, and clowns (apparently now at a safe distance) and the glow in their faces was priceless. Allie leaned in to me and for a brief while I felt like Uncle Greg with my arm around her answering her questions and laughing with excitement at the wonders of the Circus - I cherish these moments.

Lion King on Broadway

We had a great time in the city today. Laurie and I took Cole to see the Lion King on Broadway. He loved it even though in my estimation the seats weren't all that great. We were in the balcony about five rows back and it was tough to get the correct perspective on the set designs as they were intended. So everything looked a little off. Of course, it could have been me that was a little off. have been for a while. But it's progress not perfection, right.

The Lion King was truly a festival for the eyes and ears, even with the skewed view. The costumes and sets were spectacular and the overall mood of the performance was one of real energy and emotion. The story unfolded just as in the movie, which was to be expected. But the manner in which they brought human actors to life as African animals was very impressive.
From the articulating heads of the lions to the comical expressions of the hyenas it was truly top notch. A credit to the designers and engineers. Not exactly like this is a first run Broadway production I am reviewing here, the play has been out for some time, but I figured I would throw in my two cents.

We went to Times Square for dinner after the show at Ellen's Stardust Diner. What a waste. I mean it was fun and all for Cole as the singing waiters and waitresses put on quite a show. Lipsyncing to their favorite songs. Oh wait, they were actually singing them, that's right. Not so bad. Definitely better than Milli Vanilli ( I am so dating myself now). The food was greasy spoon diner-ish, but that's where we were after all - a diner. Not recommended, but stick your head in if you are in the area to get a feel for it, then go across the street to Mars 2112.

Father's Day

Father's Day has become very special to me over the past four years. Most obviously as I have become a Father, but also because I have a deeper understanding and respect for my own Father. My son Cole has allowed me to see what it must have been like for my Father, when I was young and innocent, to cherish the love of a young son and what it means to be a Father.

I can vividly remember making all sorts of Father's Day gifts for my Dad - homemade cards, ashtrays, cufflink holders out of tuna cans. My son Cole is no different.

Today I received a beautiful paperweight made out of a baby food jar with his picture cut out and glued to the lid. A hand made card and drawing accompanied the gift that simply stated, "I drew this for my dad. This is a shape. I like to punch the bulldozer with my dad. Love, Cole". No doubt somewhat interpretive as I am sure this was dictated at length to his teacher Miss Adrienne prior to being transferred verbatim to the card - just a hunch. Along with the card and paperweight were his and her tennis racquets for Mommy and Daddy. How thoughtful...

The remainder of the day was wiled away at Compo Beach constructing sand sculptures and playing on the playground.The Times seemed a bit thin this morning. Not sure if it was me or the Mobil station I buy the paper from, but I didn't receive all the ad sections I usually read on Monday's commute. Just as well I suppose, don't need to spend any more money right now what with the paperweight and tennis racquet and all.

My wife is putting her racquet to good use today as she takes on her Father and sister in doubles action down at Tashua Park. Cole and I will spend the remaining hours of Father's Day watching Wiggles and eating "Daddy's Bok-Bok", more commonly referred to as General Tso's Chicken - Cole is the cutest thing on Earth.

Creature of Habit

I am definitely a creature of habit. For the past few weekends my family and I have been getting into a "summer routine" which reflects my new attitude on family, health, and fitness - consistency. Aside from the camping trips, concerts, and vacations this summer, every weekend will be spent pretty much the same way.
Saturday morning everyone piles in the car and we take off to the Golf Center of Connecticut for the day. Typically, I have an appointment with my personal trainer at the Planet Fitness located inside the newly constructed The Rinks at Shelton scheduled for noon so I drop Laurie off to get in her workout while Cole and I go to the driving range to hit a bucket or two. Once Laurie is done with her workout, she and Cole hit the links (putt-putt) for a quick eighteen holes.

Sunday is beach day. Early morning at Compo Beach in Westport is both relaxing and revitalizing.
Sand sculptures and sea breezes fill the day and I am able to take the time to read the Sunday New York Times cover to cover - saving, of course, the NYT Magazine for the Monday morning commute. Lunch is spent inside the pavilion watching the sailboats crisscross the horizon racing to nowhere.

A few years ago this was not an option for me and my recent strides in living a healthy life have greatly increased my propensity for such diversions. Basically, I would have been in bed whiling away the day in front of the TV trying to avoid being hassled to clean the house or mow the lawn. I am grateful and blessed that this is not me today. I can live a daily amends to myself and my family for the past and seek never to repeat it - as long as I maintain consistency.

Father to Son

My family and I are headed to Hammonassett State Park this weekend for a camping adventure and we couldn't be more excited. Last weekend Cole and I set up the tent in the backyard to air it out. I don't think we have used it since I proposed to Laurie at the Falls of Lana in 1994. Needless to say it was a bit ripe, but after a few hours of fresh air and a hose it was ready for habitation.

I thought it would be fun for Cole and I to spend the night in the tent just to make sure he was comfortable inside it and prepare him for the upcoming camping trip. He absolutely loved it. His experience with tents so far in his life have been with the "jumping tents" at local fairs and carnivals, so when we pitched our tent the first thing he wanted to do was get in and "go jumping". I obliged by inflating the Aero mattress and letting him go to town. We soon settled down and began the nights entertainment - The Wizard of Oz. We set up the portable DVD player in the gear sling at the top of the tent and, while in a fully supine position, we were able to enjoy the show in absolute comfort. Cole and I made it through the night (we both fell asleep long before the movie ended) and went inside to the comforts of home at around 5:00AM. Mission successful.

The true beauty of this experience is the quality time I was able to spend with my son. I feel extremely blessed each time I see his smiling face and hear his cherubic laughter. As I find less and less available time to spend with him, it is important for me to make sure that the time spent is quality time. I have to make sure that I am cautious with my anger and reprimands, selective in my criticisms but generous with my love and praise. I need to teach him about life, love, and happiness. I need to impart to him a need for knowledge and a thirst for information. I need to teach him to throw a ball, make a paper airplane, and climb a tree.

Most of all, I need to be there for him. I love him so.

The Easter Bunny comes to town

Cole met up with the Easter Bunny today and as you can see both were overjoyed. New England got another dump of heavy snow today, perfect for cancelling school and making snow bunnies.

Unfortunately, neither the cancelled school or snow bunny can last forever.

The Second Step

The second step towards a more healthy me involves losing weight and exercising more. To this end, my wife and I are going to start a diet plan based on Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Solution. We have also decided to give each other gym memberships as gifts for our ninth wedding anniversary. I know that it is a lot to ask of myself, quitting smoking, losing weight, and getting into shape all at the same time, but I have to believe that if I focus on something and want (read need) it bad enough I can make it happen. After all, I celebrated four years of sobriety on February 9th, right? And that was hard, really hard. This should be a cake walk comparatively.

So how do we get into shape? After careful deliberation, we decided to join the local gym - Planet Fitness. Very reasonable rates and they have another facility in Norwalk, CT where I work, so I can always go there based on my schedule. Laurie and I have also retained the services of personal trainers to guide and motivate us. Neither of us are very athletically inclined or know our way around the gym so we figured this would be the best way to acclimate ourselves to the whole "experience".

Yo-yo dieting has been a way of life for both us so we needed something that we could do "for life". Based on a recommendation from an employee at the gym, we bought the Dr. Phil book and its companion reference guide. We are well armed for success. I even went so far as to join eDiets, who as luck would have it already have the Dr. Phil program as one of their offerings. The web site is very robust and offers everything from meal planning menus, complete with shopping lists and recipes, to 3D animated figures showing correct form and function for some 200 exercises, all personally tailored for my weight loss and fitness goals. So if I/we can't do this with all of the preparation, planning, and opportunities at our disposal...

God help us.

The First Step

Today I take the first step towards a more healthy me. I am quitting smoking. I tried this once before through hypnosis last January, but my peers at work pleaded for me to start smoking again (or stop coming to work).

I guess that this could actually be defined as the second step (or third) towards a more healthy me as I have lost about thirty pounds on a modified Atkins diet and been sober for the last four years, but I digress.

The deciding factor occurred during our recent trip to Florida. While sitting outside smoking, my three year old son Cole came up to me and, with all the innocence that childhood affords, asked, "Daddy, can I have a cigarette?". I was crushed. The pangs of regret hit me so hard I lost my breath. I had promised him (and myself) that for his second birthday I would give up smoking and had failed miserably. He was becoming aware of my actions and, like a good son, wanted to emulate his father.

I could put this off no longer and decided that it was time to break the smoking chains I had carried around with me for far too long. I dug up my smoking cessation hypnosis tapes from last January and am combining them with the Nicoderm-CQ patch for a one-two punch that I hope will work.

God help me.

I Love New England

Well we got our first snow storm of the season, oh boy! I guess it's time we bought my son Cole a winter coat and boots. But first I have to move the FOOT OF SNOW from my driveway.....joy.

Star Lake

I wanted to test the Upload File capabilities of MT and found that I was missing the Image::Spec library much to my chagrin. Easy enough to remedy, I love Movable Type!

My wife and I have been going to our friends house on this lake since 1992. It is so relaxing.

Redesign begins

My wife Laura and I are beginning the redesign...well, initial design of webDowling.com. I have been researching various MT plugins and methods for managing the entire site with MT Templates. There is certainly a lot to learn.

I have set up the photos section using PhotoStack....very cool.