May 2012
DOC WATSON DIED TODAY
30/05/12 08:52 Filed in: music | entertainment
Doc Watson is a great musician who plays North Carolina mountain music in a way that just seems to transcend the category. So much so that he has a global audience that may have never discovered such a music genre had he not made it accessible to the masses. He’s what they call a flat picker meaning that he holds a flat pick to create the lightening fast sound he was so well known for. Doc Watson went blind at 1 year old when he got an eye infection and it wasn’t treated. He loved music from an early age and went to great lengths to get a guitar so he could see if he could make a living at playing and writing. Indeed he succeeded. Doc Watson died at North Carolina hospital today at the age of 89 after suffering a fall earlier in the month. He died of complications while undergoing abdominal surgery. For more information on Doc Watson, visit; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Watson - See more at: http://dadsdecoded.com/blog/index_files/archive-may-2012.html#sthash.3uPirTWm.dpuf
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HAPPY AND THOUGHFUL MEMORIAL DAY
It’s a bittersweet day. Great to have a day off and connect with the family over a long weekend. And sad to think of the men and women who have given their lives so that we can enjoy days like this. My Grandfather, great uncle, uncle, dad and brother all served in the military. Most served in the Navy except my brother, who joined the USMC. I’m lucky enough that they all survived the many wars through the years, but it’s still a tragic day for so many.
SUN, MEET MY SON
Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Upon returning from Europe, the sun was smiling on Boston and I can finally introduce my son to the sun. Sounds like a country song. “Come on Conor, let’s work this one out. You play the bass notes and I’ll handle the high ones.”
LUFTHANSA MAD IT DIFFICULT TO FLY WITH A CHILD TODAY
I'd like to say the flight back to the states on Lufthansa after 13 days in Europe went smoothly, but it's not so. Not because of our seven month old but because of the Lufthansa staff. First, our ticket agent in Dublin failed to check our luggage through to Boston. We had to pick it up in Frankfurt and go through security all over again. Argh! Then, we had to leave our stroller at the gate in Dublin and Lufthansa said it would be waiting in in the jetway when we landed in Frankfurt. No stroller or car seat. Hello baggage claim with a stiff back. Argh! Then while on the tarmac, a Lufthansa flight attendant asked if the infant car seat was FAA approved. After a 5 minute conversation and a sticker on the side of the seat, we buckled back in. Argh! Then upon arrival in Boston, once again, Lufthansa forgot to deliver all the strollers to the jetway and all the parents had to carry their children, diaper bags and carry-ons through security and on to baggage claim. Argh! All this happening in the final hours after 13 days abroad, the trip to Europe was great and traveling with Conor was a real gas. In more ways than you can imagine. "Honey, I think Conor did it again. Must be the altitude."
BOY APE FOUND IN THE TREES OF MOUNT USHER IN EASTERN IRELAND
Tarzan. George of the Jungle. Chistopher Robinson. They’ve got nothing on Conor Driskoll. 7 months old and a good sense of balance, I found a great place for Conor to dangle his legs and sit on the tree like a big boy at Mount Usher Gardens on the eastern sea coast of Ireland. This botanical garden is probably one of the most impressive I’ve seen with exotic trees, flowers, suspension bridges and flowing river through the middle of the estate. But what I really liked most was taking my wife and son and seeing them both enjoy the strange lush green surroundings of an Irish spring. Conor wanted to touch all the leaves, flowers and grasses. He was very studious and laughed when he touched the pine needles and they poked him back.
CONOR VISITS AN IRISH FARM IN THE WICKLOW MOUNTAINS
Old tractors. Mended fences. Pigs. Chickens. Cows. Sheep and ducks. Today, Val, Conor and I found ourselves at Greenan Farms in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. It was fun watching Conor study each of the animals and try to talk to them in a language only babies and ducklings know. As a dad, I watch my son with an amazing amount of satisfaction and pleasure as his brain grows and he begins to make sense of the world around him. I rest easier knowing that he is finding his way in this world and that he will be his own man. I imagine it sounds silly since he’s only 7 months old but to a dad, I sense that he will be okay. He is friendly, happy, studious and curious. These are qualities that I find both necessary and admirable in a person. And am happy to discover in my son.
CONOR CRAWLS FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY
May 17th, 2012 at 7:37am, Conor decided to crawl for the first time. I happened to be cleaning the camera when I saw him and shot this :10 video as he came crawling to me. I told Valerie to come check him out. When she saw him crawling she started crying. I looked back at Conor to see what had happened that would cause her to cry. But he was just kneeling there smiling. I looked back to see if she was fine but she was still crying. Then I was really confused. Finally, it hit me that she was crying because she was happy and sad that he was crawling. It was another one of those milestones that reminds us that he’s getting older and he’ll never be the baby he was. He’s changing. And when it hit me, I was a little sad, too. He’s been such a great baby that it’s hard to admit we’re moving into the next phase of his life and the old phase is now a piece of charming history.
GERMANY TO IRELAND - BATTLE OF THE BEERS
Left Germany this morning after a week of great sightseeing, company, food and of course, great beer. Each town has its own breweries and the local restaurants serve the local beer. So after 5 days of local PIls, Helles and Dunkels, we left Germany for Ireland. By 1pm I couldn’t stand to wait any longer and when my wife’s father asked me if I wanted a Guinness, I think I answered a little too fast, “Yes.” My son was just as mesmerized at the black gold as I was. We admired its iconic black color and white foam for about 30 seconds then opted for a taste. I don’t which beer I like better. And really, do I have to choose? No, when in Germany do as the Germans. And when in Ireland, do as the Irish. They’re both delicious. And so I leave the toast of, “Prost” in Germany and switch to “Slainte” now that I’m in Ireland. Both mean, “To good health!”
VISITING THE HOME OF GRIMMS FAIRY TALES
This is Kassel, Germany. It’s not close to Berlin, Hamburg or Munchen. It’s actually in the middle of Germany, about an hour north of Frankfurt. This is the home of the Grimms Brothers. This is where they wrote and collected most of their stories. The first edition was 86 stories that were published in 1812. By the seventh edition, there’were a total of 211 stories. All editions were extensively illustrated. First by Philipp Grot Johann and after his death, the work continued by Robert Leinweber. Snow White and Hansel and Gretel were among the very first stories to make the first edition. And there was plenty of criticism on its suitability for children. After all, in Rapunzel, she asks why her dress is getting so tight around her belly after visits from the prince. Oops, that had to be re-edited on subsequent publishings. I offered to take Conor into the forest for a hike but he refused. He saw smoke in the woods and didn’t want anything to do with the cannibalistic witch.
COWBOY CONOR RIDES THE WILD WEST OF KASSEL, GERMANY
Today is our first day in Kassel, Germany with Conor. It’s also his first day ever going to a neighborhood park. The slides, swings and bouncy animals are all different than in America. The slides are metal pipe slides and the swings were in a sort of pit and you would climb to the top of the artificial hill and swing into the bottom of the valley or pit and then swing up and out again. It was really fun. Later, we went to a baptism where Valerie was the godmother of her good friend, Britt’s son, Nikolaus. But for Conor, riding the German horse with his cowboy hat was much more exciting.
FAMILY'S FIRST TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
36,000 feet above the Atlantic and Conor and I were on top of the world. The gate agent at Luftansa in Boston had taken good care of us and with only three empty seats on the plane, she worked enough magic that Valerie moved into a middle seat one row away while Conor got her seat for no additional cost. This meant we got to use our car infant seat to wedge into the cramped quarters of the economy class at seat 19A. The 25-year old sitting in the seat directly in front of Conor was the only loser in the equation. Not because Conor cried because he didn’t. He slept soundly from take-off until an hour before landing. But because the seats were so cramped, the guy couldn’t recline his seat even one inch. He eventually stopped looking back in frustration and fell asleep.
Cleverly, Valerie had booked a flight that didn’t leave Boston until 10;20pm. This was two hours after Conor’s bedtime and sure enough, he was fast asleep for takeoff. And as we landed, I gave him a bottle of milk to ease the pressure in his ears and he flew like a champ. Within no time, we had switched from plane to train and was on our way to Kassel, Germany. Flying with my son has always been a fear of mine but after today, I have to say that it was relaxing and even fun. The flight attendants and even fellow travelers are much nicer and gives us all something to talk about. - See more at: http://dadsdecoded.com/blog/index_files/archive-may-2012.html#sthash.6jL33UpS.dpuf
THE AUTHOR OF 'WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE' DIED TODAY
If you don't know his name, you know his book, "Where the Wild Things Are." When asked where he got the idea for the monsters in his book, he replied, "they're my aunts and uncles. They're all monsters." Sendak wrote his book in 1961 and the following year the American Library Association awarded him the prestigious Caldicott Medal for his illustrations in the book. Other children's gems that Sendak authored are, "In the Night Kitchen" in 1970 and "Outside Over There" in 1981.
His latest book was written in 2007 while he cared for his cancer-strickened partner, Eugene Glynn. He has been quoted as saying, "I have nothing now but praise for my life. I'm not unhappy. I cry a lot because i miss people. They die and I cannot stop them. They leave me and I love them more."
The queen of Sweden has presented Maurice Sendak with the Hans Christian Anderson Award for his illustrations and Bill Clinton awarded Sendak the National Medal of Arts back in 1996.
"Where the Wild Things Are" was my brother's favorite book growing up and so Maurice has a special place in my heart for this simple connection. Rest in peace where the Wild Things Are, Mr. Sendak.
AT 6 1/2 MONTHS OLD, CONOR AND STAND WITH A LITTLE HELP
At 6 1/2 months, Conor seems to be in a growth spurt now. Only 4 days ago he said, ‘Da Da’ for the first time. 2 nights ago, I was laying on the floor and he crawled over to me and put his head down next to my chest and went to sleep. Then last night, he didn’t need me to hold his arms so that he could stand up. He just leaned against me and with a lot of work, was able to hold his own balance. These are really fun times now because I can see a little person forming from an infant. I’ve enjoyed every step of the way so far. And it keeps getting better.
MY 6 1/2 MONTH OLD SON SAYS, "DADDA," WHEN I COME HOME FROM EUROPE
After 14 days in Europe on business, I came home at 6pm and my wife came down the stairs to welcome me home with our 6 month old son in her arms. My wife told Conor, “Look who’s home, Conor. It’s daddy.” And my son look confused for about 10 seconds and then he got a giant grin on his face and his arms started flailing. Then his feet started kicking. Suddenly, his jaw dropped and for about 10 minutes, he couldn’t close his mouth. He was smiling with his mouth wide open. When he finally was able to close his mouth, he started saying, da da. I had never heard him say it before. My wife said that he had started saying da da only that morning without any coaxing from her.
I took this recording later that same evening when we finished eating dinner.
I looked online to see if there is some sort of magic age that an infant starts talking. It looks like about as early as 6 months but most start around 9 months. So if you’re child isn’t saying words by 6 months, don’t sweat it.