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INTERVIEWING THE DESIGNER OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPLICATED WRISTWATCH
Today is exciting as we prepare to interview the designer of the world’s most complicated watch which sold recently for 2.7 million dollars. Located in the foothills of the Swiss Alps in Geneva, Switzerland, John Pierre Golay and his cousin Pierre Michel, of Franck Muller Company, are two charming older gentlemen who have opened their studio compound to us. They have agreed to show us the entire process of how they created their newest watch, the Giga with the largest tourbillon ever designed. I asked John Pierre if there were any secrets or proprietary information that we should stay away from. His reply was, “What secrets? We have no secrets. It is about experience; about understanding. If you can make this watch, please go ahead.”
They don’t make any children’s watches so Conor will have to keep asking mommy and daddy what time it is. Considering he’s only 6 months old, I don’t suppose he cares what time it is anyway. It’s either time to play, time to eat or time to sleep. And no watch is going to tell him that!
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THESE GUYS DESIGNED AND BUILT A WATCH THAT SOLD FRO 2.7 MILLION DOLLARS
We have now completed our film of Franck Muller brand wristwatches, the master of complications. Here are the brains behind the operation, Jean Pierre Golay and his cousin Pierre Michel Golayl Both of these Swiss gentlemen went to watch making school years ago and have mastered their craft. If there were a sport called Xtreme watch making, these guys would be the poster boys. The last watch they created took four years to make and had over 1,500 parts delicately placed in a case that fits on your wrist. Without SolidWorks CAD software, this would have been nearly impossible to create. I asked Jean Pierre this afternoon at lunch why the Swiss are so well known for watch making. He surprised me by answering that the French were the real watch makers but that hundreds of years ago, the protestants and Catholics went to war and the protestants were exiled and they went to Switzerland. These were the watch makers and so they took their craft with them.
Tomorrow, we’re back to Paris to finish filming the Aldebaran humanoid robots. I’d like to get my son one of them but considering they are $15,000, I’ll look for something a little less steep in the local souvenir shop. Seven more days until I get to hold him in my arms and kiss my wife. - See more at: http://dadsdecoded.com/blog/index_files/archive-apr-2012.html#sthash.H6iEDYW5.dpuf
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
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!”
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.”
SEPARATION ANXIETY
6 and 7 months is the time when some kids get separation anxiety. This can manifest itself by being shy around strangers or getting upset when you leave the room and they don’t get to come along.
While our son, Conor, has a very happy disposition and loves to meet strangers, he is showing some signs of separation anxiety when we leave the room. If he’s playing with a toy, there’s a good chance he won’t cause a commotion. But if he’s between toys and realizes that he’s on his own, he begins to cry. At night, Conor does not like to be put in his crib and have us walk away. We have tried leaving him in his crib to cry but 15 minutes is about as long as we care to hold out. After that, it just seems cruel to him and irritatingly noisy to us. It’s easier to pick him up after a cry and within 5 minutes he’s asleep in our arms and can then go back to sleep in his crib.
I don’t think I’m necessarily strict with Conor, but at the same time, I do think there has to be some boundaries. But at 7 months, I’m still trying to decide what they are. And wanting to be held by his dad right before bed doesn’t seem too outrageous.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
My son gave me his feet for my first Father's Day. I have to admit I welled up a little. I feel so lucky to have him in our lives. We spent the day hanging out while mom went to a baby shower. We went to Home Depot and bought manly stuff. Then we came home and worked on the boat until it was dinner time. Then we played a little more until at last, he conked out. Not a bad Father's Day at all.
32-YEAR OLD INTERVIEWS HIM SELF AT THE AGE OF 12
Young filmmaker/parking attendant, Jeremiah McDonald showed an uncanny vision when he videotaped himself 20 years ago talking to his future self. Digging that VHS tape up all these years later, Jeremiah set off to interview his 12-year old self. The results are stunning as we see what 20 years of living will undoubtedly do to a person. Innocence turns to sarcasm. Dreams fade like a Poloroid picture. Love of pop culture hangs on like a cat to a ball of string. And there's absolutely no way to tell what technology will come along in the future to change our life. Think about it, when Jeremiah created this videotape of himself talking to himself in the future, there was no such thing as the internet. Jeremiah had no way of imagining that he could share this idea with the world. The experiment was simply a kid having fun, obsessed with time travel and an imagination that led him to act out his fantasy. And while no scientist has cracked the code on time travel yet, someone did crack the code on how to connect the past with the future and allow that connection to be witnessed by millions of people all over the world. As of today, four days after the video was uploaded to YouTube, 5,790,459 people have viewed this interaction between a 32-year old and himself at 12.
THE DOG WHISPERER SHARES HIS DINNER
According to Cesar Milan, the dog whisperer, “Dogs see you only for who you are—not who you want to be. You cannot fool a dog. A dog doesn’t listen to your words; it reads your body language, which can’t lie. Before you begin a conversation with a dog you have to acknowledge how you really feel.” At this time, Conor feels hungry yet generous. And El Dog is not one to disappoint.
CONOR GOES TO NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans is known for its many shops, rituals and parades that honor the dead. Conor's not so sure he likes the practice. - See more at: http://dadsdecoded.com/blog/index_files/archive-sep-2012.html#sthash.fuCD9zcQ.dpuf
MY COUSIN WHIT GOT MARRIED TODAY
Weddings are such a great excuse to get together and see family you never get to see except at weddings and funerals. This was a chance for Conor to meet his uncles, aunts and cousins. I know he won't remember them next time he sees them but it's a good attempt at starting a tradition of meeting on a semi-regular basis so that he has some roots when he grows up. Conor got to meet his great Uncle John who's a lawyer and likes to duck hunt. And his great uncle Whit who's a pharmacist and likes to bullshit. I wonder which of those traits Conor will get?
WWII MUSEUM IN NEW ORLEANS
The old lady in the elevator didn't think the WWII Museum was appropriate for a baby but we had fun. The museum focused on the invasion of Normandy and the war with Japan. We highly recommend the museum if you're a WWII buff but Conor was only good for about an hour of it before he got antsy and wanted to stand in the stroller instead of sit. Considering he's only 11 months old at this point, I'll consider that a victory. After he waived the white flag, we gracefully made our exit.
FLYING WITH OUR 11-MONTH OLD IS PLEASURE
Is having a kid supposed to be so much fun or have I just lost my marbles? I remember when I was afraid to fly with my family the first time. Screaming babies who rattle my nerves and those around me was a complete waste of energy thinking about. Conor is now 11 months old and a blast to be around. Our 2 1/2 hour flight from New Orleans to Boston was really a pleasure. Seeing my son look out the window of a plane traveling 37,000 feet above the Earth was like being a kid all over again myself. And when he'd get tired of playing and come over and crawl on me like he's a little monkey just makes me laugh. And makes me proud to be a dad.
THERE ARE NO STRINGS ON CONOR
Conor may be his own man but it turns out that babies don't swallow solid foods automatically. As it turns out, they have to learn how to swallow. That's why they start out with soft food and slowly learn to eat things that have a thicker consistency and eventually little pieces of chicken and beef mixed in. I always thought they ate soft foods because of they had no teeth. But that was only half the story. Here, Conor hasn't grasped the idea of swallowing. Poor little guy.
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING WITH A ONE-YEAR OLD
Ah, come on, Christmas shopping with a child? That's a recipe for disaster. Unless you just make a game out of it. Mom shopped while Conor and I amused ourselves. Tiny Elton John had a great time and the holiday shoppers got a kick out of us, too. It's great being a dad!
BROTHERS GRIMM MINUS THE GRIM
OUR SON IS SHOWING NO SIGNS OF SHYNESS
It was cold today in Boston and Conor needed to run around so we took him to Natick Mall where they have a little kids indoor playground. After he got tired out, we visited the Yogibo store, Yogibos are like the bean bag equivalent of 1978. Except cooler. When we arrived, there were a few girls trying out the Yogibos and having a good time. Conor, not having a shy bone in his body, inserted himself into the middle of their conversation and somehow made the meeting about him. I dug around the internet to see if this was a normal attribute in kids and it's not necessarily so. There are in fact, shy kids and it's usually hereditary if they exhibit signs at an early age. There is a stage of infant development called 'stranger anxiety' and it doesn't last very long in the development process. And Conor has shown signs of it at times but after he sized up the situations, he ran into them head first.
THE SIMPLIST OF THINGS CAN BE A REAL PLEASURE
CONJUNCTIVITIS IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS
Got a call from daycare today saying to come pick up the boy. 15 months into his life and Conor gets pinkeye. It's medical name is conjunctivitis so I like pinkeye better. Sounds less…permanent. It's highly contagious and schools don't like it.
What exactly is conjunctivitis? It's a virus (or bacteria) that causes inflammation of the clear membrane that covers the white part of your eye.
How is it spread? Conjunctivitis is passed from one person to the next after the infected person rubs their eyes then touches another person or touches something that the next person then touches. That's really the only way you can spread pinkeye. It turns your eyes red for about 4 days and makes them really itchy. Like having sand in your eyes. It makes my eyes hurt just writing this. It usually goes away on its own but it's still important to see a doctor because there are side effects that can occur with untreated conjunctivitis and you don't want that to happen.
We took Conor to the doctor within 2 hours of the school notifying us. A common secondary condition that can occur with pinkeye is an ear infection. So the doctor checked Conor's ears and sure enough, he had an ear infection. So now we have a mild antibiotic for his ears and eye drops for his eyes. Giviing a baby eye drops is like telling an elephant to tiptoe through a petunia patch; it ain't gonna happen. The trick is to give him eye drops while his eyes are still closed in a horizontal position and when he opens his eyes, the liquid runs into the eyes and it feels good and you're a hero. Bam!
LARGEST BLIZZARD IN 30 YEARS HITS BOSTON
Quincy got 30" of snow overnight. It started at about 10:30am on Friday morning. I took Conor with me to work and after two hours of playing with him and a couple other kids who came with their parents, we all decided to get out the office and go home before the worst of the storm hit. Conor and I picked up his mom and before going home, decided to go to Bye Bye Baby for a snow suit. As all the stores in town were closing down early, we called ahead and they were closing in 15 minutes. We were about 17 minutes away. We picked up the pace and arrived with one minute to spare. It was easy finding him a suit and I picked up this little red sled while I was at it. All the winter stuff was 50% off. The store was making room for swim suits and flip flops. Go figure.
By 6pm the snow was really starting to accumulate. It was fun looking out the window and seeing the landscape change as the flakes fell. At 9:30pm, the electricity went out. And that was a turning point for us. The temperature was at 71 degrees but with a house full of wall-to-wall windows, the temperature started to drop immediately. By midnight, the temp had dropped to 59 degrees. Worse, the news said that those living on the coast should consider evacuation. Tidal waves as high as 28 feet had been sighted. What? 28 feet? Are you serious? So, as the tide rose, I looked vigilantly out the window to give the family enough notice to get ready to evacuate on foot it necessary. We begin to collect family treasures that we would want to save
if the worst came to pass. And we gathered warm clothes for all of us and put them in a central location so we could quickly put them on if necessary. Lastly, because the winds were as strong as 65 miles an hour and the whole house was shaking, we all slept together in the downstairs guest bedroom. And nervously but excitedly, we all settled in.
By 8am, the temp in the house was 51 degrees. Val and Conor stayed in the warm bed while I went outside with a shovel. Shockingly, the snow was up past my knees. I started digging my SUV out. I kept seeing the city snow removal truck two roads away from mine. But it did me no good. We live on a private road and the city's snow trucks look at us and flip us off. At least metaphorically, speaking. For four hours I dug a section of the road of 30" of snow.
By noon I had dug the car out and at the same time, the electricity came back on. Things were looking up. After a big breakfast of french toast, bacon and orange juice, we all dressed for fun and headed out with Conor and his new sled. He was bundled up great but his boots are made for rain and not snow and after a short time out, we returned with a crying baby. Upon pulling off his boots, we realized his feet were cold. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find him some warmer shoes. And then it's out to enjoy a big snowy adventure land that I foolishly moved to 5 years ago from the warm and kind temperate climate of Atlanta.
DON'T FENCE ME IN
A strange thing happened this evening after coming home. Conor was awfully fussy and kept wanting me to pluck him out of his high chair where his mom was having trouble feeding him. After I rescued him from his chair, he cried to be let down. But when I let him down he cried to be picked up again. It was very frustrating. I asked him what he wanted but of course, he can't really talk yet. He pointed towards the living room but I couldn't figure out what he was pointing at. So I put him down and offered him my hand hoping he might guide me to what he wanted. Sure enough, he took my hand and pulled me in the direction he wanted to go. At last, we ended up at the front door and he pointed to the door handle. He wanted out. When I opened the door, he smiled and walked to the door frame and stepped out into the rain. He looked pleased and wanted to walk down the stairs. I obliged him. When we finally got to the street Conor let my hand go and he looked around and smiled. He was happy.
Then it hit me, for the last 3 days we spent almost the whole day just sitting in my dad's front yard in San Benito, Texas, soaking up the sun and the fresh air. Conor was now cooped up in the cold Northeast and he wanted to feel the fresh air, even if it was raining. I let him stand there for a couple of minutes and then picked him up and gave him a big hug. I promised we'd take him out tomorrow. I then came back inside, ordered him a raincoat online and will wait on its arrival. There's no reason to keep a little boy trapped inside a house when he wants to enjoy the great outdoors. Even if it's raining or snowing. It's time to get the right gear so he's not fenced in.
LARGEST BLIZZARD IN 30 YEARS HITS NEW ENGLAND
Quincy got 30" of snow overnight. It started at about 10:30am on Friday morning. I took Conor with me to work and after two hours of playing with him and a couple other kids who came with their parents, we all decided to get out the office and go home before the worst of the storm hit. Conor and I picked up his mom and before going home, decided to go to Bye Bye Baby for a snow suit. As all the stores in town were closing down early, we called ahead and they were closing in 15 minutes. We were about 17 minutes away. We picked up the pace and arrived with one minute to spare. It was easy finding him a suit and I picked up this little red sled while I was at it. All the winter stuff was 50% off. The store was making room for swim suits and flip flops. Go figure.
By 6pm the snow was really starting to accumulate. It was fun looking out the window and seeing the landscape change as the flakes fell. At 9:30pm, the electricity went out. And that was a turning point for us. The temperature was at 71 degrees but with a house full of wall-to-wall windows, the temperature started to drop immediately. By midnight, the temp had dropped to 59 degrees. Worse, the news said that those living on the coast should consider evacuation. Tidal waves as high as 28 feet had been sighted. What? 28 feet? Are you serious? So, as the tide rose, I looked vigilantly out the window to give the family enough notice to get ready to evacuate on foot it necessary. We begin to collect family treasures that we would want to save
if the worst came to pass. And we gathered warm clothes for all of us and put them in a central location so we could quickly put them on if necessary. Lastly, because the winds were as strong as 65 miles an hour and the whole house was shaking, we all slept together in the downstairs guest bedroom. And nervously but excitedly, we all settled in.
By 8am, the temp in the house was 51 degrees. Val and Conor stayed in the warm bed while I went outside with a shovel. Shockingly, the snow was up past my knees. I started digging my SUV out. I kept seeing the city snow removal truck two roads away from mine. But it did me no good. We live on a private road and the city's snow trucks look at us and flip us off. At least metaphorically, speaking. For four hours I dug a section of the road of 30" of snow.
By noon I had dug the car out and at the same time, the electricity came back on. Things were looking up. After a big breakfast of french toast, bacon and orange juice, we all dressed for fun and headed out with Conor and his new sled. He was bundled up great but his boots are made for rain and not snow and after a short time out, we returned with a crying baby. Upon pulling off his boots, we realized his feet were cold. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find him some warmer shoes. And then it's out to enjoy a big snowy adventure land that I foolishly moved to 5 years ago from the warm and kind temperate climate of Atlanta.
BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING TODAY
What a sad day that on Patriots Day, April 15, 2013 someone would plant and detonate two bombs at the Boston Marathon. One of my colleagues and friends, Christian Williams, was hit in that bombing and is at Brigham and Women's Hospital tonight. According to his room mate, he just got out of surgery and surgeons have managed to save both legs and his hand. He is very lucky for being at the wrong place and the wrong time. HIs girlfriend was also hit and she too, has survived and is doing okay this evening. Caroline is a great girl and our family is praying for the speedy recovery of these two super people.
CONOR AND DAD SING, "GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE"
16/07/13 16:02
Conor and Dad singing, "George of the Jungle" from steve kolander on Vimeo.
Conor's at a great age now where he can understand me better and try to carry on a conversation. He's a little parrot these days and very good at mimicking and learning. Here we are learning the "George Of The Jungle" song.
I THINK I SEE THE LION DAD
20/10/13 21:10
Conor and I went to the Franklin Zoo in Boston today. We had a great time together, exploring every inch of the park. He was scared of the leopard as it paced around in it’s enclosure. We were super close. And he was also scared of the gorilla when it looked over and started staring at us. He said, “Daddy, Conor scared. Let’s go.” And so we did.
There was this really cool lion exhibit where it looks as though a safari jeep has crashed through the 3 inch glass and is now resting in the lion’s den. Conor loved it. Here he is looking for the lion. Pretty serious.
CONOR'S MAKING FRENCH TOAST FOR DAD TODAY
14/11/13 21:00
I just keep getting surprised at how much our boy is growing up. He’s already helping dad with maintenance projects around the house and now with breakfast and dinner, too. HIs favorite kitchen tool is the ‘patchula.’
CHRISTMAS TREE HANGING
03/12/13 20:46
"Honey, hang that wooden lobster in the trap a little bit higher, Conor keeps taking it down and trying to pull the lobster out." Man, decorating the tree isn't as simple and fast as it used to be. It takes a lot of thought with a 2-year old. "Conor, give me back that tin star. It's too sharp to be running around the living room with." Everything 3 feet and under has to be child proof. "Val, put that plastic reindeer way low. Conor will take it off but he can't hurt himself with it." Yeah, Decorating the Christmas tree is a whole new ball of wax now. But it's fun watching him stare at the tree and say, "Look mommy, it's a Christmas tree. Look Daddy, blue lights." And then he sits in his tiny rocking chair and just stares at it. Until he spots a Christmas ornament that he wants to play with. Then he gets out of his chair and yanks it off the tree. "Look Daddy, it's a Christmas tree on a Christmas tree. Ha, ha." He giggles as he studies the plastic Christmas tree we got in Austin 3 years ago when visiting Mom in the middle of summer.
IT'S NOT DEFIANCE, THE TESTING IS HEALTHY
At 2 years old, Conor is in full swing of testing Valerie and me. Just last night, I told him to stop jumping up the stairs so he wouldn’t accidently fall. He jumped up the next stair and looked back, grinning. I repeated my request and it triggered him to jump up the next step and turn around, grinning. I wondered if I should put him in a timeout for disobeying or pick him up and get him out of the ‘hot’ area.
According to Susanne Ayers Denham, a developmental psychologist, kids aren’t being defiant when they ‘test’ us. She points out that toddlers are trying to grapple with the rules of the family. They’re still trying to figure out if you need to be there to correct them each time and how they can ‘own’ the rule so they follow it even when you’re not there.
When you figure that this ‘testing’ coincides with their increasing need to be independent, it’s hard to read when a child needs to be reprimanded and when a child needs some room to learn and grow. I find this line increasingly blurry and need a constant dose of psychologists to remind me that my amazing son is following human instincts and isn’t just trying to be a pain in the ass on any given day. So thank you, Susanne, for your help today.
LOLLIPOPS!
15/01/14 22:40
Conor is a picky eater but there's some foods that he particularly loves that just aren't kids' foods. Here's a lollipop lamb chop that he will fight tooth and nail to get. The other is artichokes. Other than that, he just likes hot dogs and mac and cheese. Ha!
YIKES, MY BABY'S REGRESSING
12/04/14 22:10 Filed in: child development | boys
Conor keeps teetering between wanting to be a baby and in the next sentence, “I’m a big boy.” He wants to be held and 5 minutes later he doesn’t even want a hug. He’s not exactly sure what he wants these days.
Here’s an interesting article from my trusty website; babycenter.com entitled, ‘Why Regression Happens.’
"Learning new skills is often "two steps forward, one step back." Regression is common in 2-year-olds partly because there are just so many new skills to juggle. They're also vulnerable to stresses that make them want to go back to familiar territory (diapers instead of that new potty) because it's more comforting. Be patient with little setbacks and remember that they're not permanent.
Well, that's good to know because I thought I may have done something wrong or dropped him on his head. I always like hearing that everybody's in the same boat as me. For better or worse, at least we're all doing well or we're all miserable. I just like the company.