We're in Vail, Colorado. This is Dan's dream, as we've been here many times in the winter, but never in the summer, and he's indeed dreamt of seeing it  in the summer.  I'm out-of-this-world happy because I was raised on out-west mountain vacations.  Of course, in my time, we got in the Dodge Ram Conversion and drove 12 hours at a time, my brother Kevin and I sprawling on the floor without seatbelts.

That's not the way Dan rolls.  We flew into Denver yesterday and rented a Ford Expedition, which is huge and requires safety.

We're in a fab VRBO with our bosom pals, Adam and Tracy and their three kids. Today we spent the whole day at a mountain-top adventure park with zip lines, ropes courses, and alpine slides. We're all tired and tan and ready for a chill evening of Netflix and hot-tubbing and of course, the card game that Adam and I generally lose but pretend to win.  Things could be so, so much worse.

Penguins of Madagascar Movie Review

The Benefits of Knowing the World's Best Librarian, JW

• I can't make even the simplest of decisions sometimes.  "Do you want Mexican or Japanese?" Dan might ask. "I don't know, you decide," I'll say.  "Just tell me what you want," he says. "But I don't KNOW what I want," I insist.  "What do you feel like?" he asks kindly.  "I don't know!  SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I need to THINK!  Just leave me alone!" And then the crying.
• I eat random stuff.  I wish I were kidding.  Sometimes, I'll take something off the ground and think, I wonder what this would taste like. Once on an early date, Dan watched me notice a piece of scotch tape on my sock, peel it off, and bring it to my lips.  "No, no!" he said.  "We do not eat the tape from our feet."  I wish I were making this up.
• I have mild OCD. I'm not being insensitive to those with this condition.  It's actually true.  I am one of you! I just discussed it yesterday regarding the cyst. This has its benefits - I learn all kinds of things all the time.  When I say I will do something, I most often do it. I will find us the most energy efficient washer and dryer after days of frenzied research.  Sadly, I will also try to sneak a look in your ear canal to check out your wax situation.  I will try to do it surreptitiously, but you might notice.  I'm sorry, but I've been obsessed with ear wax for a couple of years now.

Movie Camp: Probably my most successful summer endeavor. We've seen movies on most of the Tuesdays.  Of all the movies I've seen so far, I'm going to say that The Secret Life of Pets is my favorite. I read some reviews on Rotten Tomatoes about this fine film, and some of the critics are complaining that there isn't enough serious meaning and subtext in the story.  Critics, get over yourselves.  That angry fluffy rabbit cutie pie made me laugh so flipping hard.

Professional Writing: I'm totally making progress.  The book has expanded by 10,000 words since I began my class.  I'd like to pick up the pace a bit here, but there are some barriers like full-time parenting, parent-teacher committee chairing, curriculum planning, and marginally-effective dog training.  Also, now, Pokémon Go. Still, let's celebrate my success.  I'm loving the book, and the storyboard is growing.  Win.



Annals of Medicine: Skinny Poop

When Shef was obsessed with the vacuum cleaner.

Whether or not to assign chores

When Shef was obsessed with NASCAR (and Budweiser)

Everyone's probably noticed that things with race-related shootings are really terrible right now. This particular flare-up hits home: Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer here in the Twin Cities. The confrontation began as a routine traffic stop.

As much as we wish they would, shootings like this one are not going to stop happening.  All of our systems in the United States privilege white citizens over brown and black ones, and our long history of racial segregation and oppression leads to trauma and fear and continued violence.

Because the problem is so big, it's hard to figure out what to do.  My reaction in times like this is to focus on my professional training, which is as a teacher. I try to engage my students and my own children, pictured above, in frequent conversations about race, racial violence, and privilege.  "I know this stuff," my oldest said this morning when I talked again about whiteness, blackness, and fear.

"I know," I said, "but it's just that as a white boy, you have a very big responsibility to work for change."

We all do, really. What are my next steps?

Shef's first stomach flu.  Why would you want to read this?

The time Mac puked at tae kwon do.  Again, why click?

As true patriots, the 4th of July weekend is a favorite in our family.  We kicked off the celebration of our nation's independence with a two-night trip to the family cabin with Dan's parents, his sister, and her family.  A rolicking time was had by all.  Highlights included Mac's first time up on water skis (pictured above) and Shef's unique approach to fishing.

Here's how the fishing goes:  First, the kid taunts the fish loudly.  "Come on, Fish!  I'm gonna get you this time!"  Just to be clear: this part is yelling.  The idea of not startling the fish doesn't resonate with Shef.  When tiny sunfish go for the bait, Shef celebrates heartily.  "OH YEAH!" and "LET'S GO!" are two of the cheers I heard. After he reels the one-, two-, or three-inch-long fish in, the problems present themselves.

Here's the biggest problem: Shef is apparently terrified of fish.  He emits high-pitched and ridiculous screams when a fish twitches, as fish are wont to do when out of water.  "Take it off the hook," we told him.  He struggled mightily with this task, even when I calmly demonstrated and coached from close proximity.  I'd say he screamed like a little girl, except that's sexist and in fact, a little girl (his cousin) was serenely fishing next to him, removing fish from the hook without any hoopla or to-do.

Shef himself could see the humor in the fishing and documented it in a small moment piece that he composed on his Chrome Book at the conclusion of the angling session.  Isn't that great? An outdoorsman who is also a writer?  He's every parent's dream.  And here's a video documenting what I've just described.  LOL, for realz.



Shef kayaking at the cabin at age 2. That's great parenting.

The time I bought a swim suit for an eighty year-old. I don't still wear that swimsuit, FYI.