Do you like green eggs and ham?

Think left and think right
and think low and think high.
Oh, the thinks you can think up if you only try!
- From "Oh The Thinks You Can Think!" by Dr. Seuss

It's Dr. Seuss Week at Michael's kindergarten and the wacky wackiness is well underway. Each day features a crazy kookie activity that Michael is absolutely loving. Monday was Pajama Day and Michael skipped happily to school wearing his best football pj's. A nice yellow and blue ensemble with football helmets everywhere. I believe the Who's at Whoville would have loved it!

Yesterday was "Cat in the Hat" Day and featured quite a nice surprise for the Mommies and Daddies at pickup time. One by one little kids emerged from their classroom sporting extremely cool "Cat in the Hat" hats. Michael was beaming from ear to ear. The moment we got home I pulled out the camera and snapped a picture, as per the instructions on page 75 in the Official Parenting Manual. And of course I put it on my blog. So y'all can see Mr. Handsome himself in his "Cat in the Hat" glory. Isn't he cute?

Michael proudly wore his hat most of the afternoon. There is something about watching the sole male heir to your empire running through the house with a giant "Cat in the Hat" hat and a paddle-ball toy, singing at the top of his lungs, that makes this whole parenting gig worth it.

Right now Michael is enjoying Wacky Socks Day with the rest of his classmates. Mommy sent him out this morning with one brown sock and one black and white striped sock with a pirate logo on it. Isn't that wacky kiddies?

Tomorrow is Theodore Geisel Day. The kids will read one of my personal favorites, "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish." And the whole party wraps up on Friday with a green eggs and ham feast.

So let me wish everyone a Happy Dr. Seuss Week! May we all celebrate life the way the good Doctor intented. And always remember to "THINK! You can think any think that you wish ..."

- Dave

Do Not Hang On Rim

Oh glorious day! Oh sweet Marie this is nice! It's the first of March and old Father Winter decided to take a nap. The skies above the Kingdom of Eagle are Bronco blue as far as the eye can see. The sun is shining and I have this strange urge to take off my coat. I believe my body is experiencing "heat," but I really can't remember what this sensation is called. It's been too long.

To celebrate this grand occasion, Michael and I grabbed a basketball and dashed for the car. I was planning on a relaxing drive to the park for some hoops action. But just before opening the car door a realization hit me. "Wait!," the realizer in my mind screamed. "You've got basketball hoops right next door to your house dude!!"

(My realizer can be kind of rude, dontcha think?)

"That's right," I responded. "We do have hoops next door. In fact, we have an entire park right next to our freaking house! It's got tennis courts and everything! It's one of the main reasons we bought this house! How did I forget this fact?!"

"Daddy, are you talking to yourself again?," Michael added.

Have you heard the expression, "hiding in plain sight?" Well that pretty much sums up the mysterious park next to our house that I absolutely forgot about until now. I've been walking or driving past this particular next-door park for so long this winter that my mind simply started to ignore its presence. It became invisible to me. Poof! Gone!

(I never said I was smart. "Look at me! Now I'm on a horse!," handsome? Absolutely. Smart? No.)

Anyway, Michael was super excited to have basketball hoops right next door and the two of us unveiled our unique brand of roundball. Michael dribbled up, down and around the court while laughing and executing his own play-by-play. I discovered that my verticle jump ain't so verticle anymore. I also discovered that my shooting motion has been altered somewhat during the past 20 years. Shots that once soared effortlessly through the air now launch like cruise missles. I felt the uge to shout, "Fore!" whenever the ball left my hand.

As if my "shooting" display wasn't frustrating enough, I had to suffer the indignity of a patronizing little sign some smarty-pants painted on the backboard. "Do not hang on rim," the sign said. Five little words shattering my manhood and reminding me once again that I am not 6-foot-8 and awesome.

Thanks a million.

I didn't take this indignity without a fight. No siree! After getting a good head of steam, I managed to "soar" high enough to touch the net below the rim. I tripped somewhat and slammed into the chain-link fence, but it was totally worth it! I even got a "good job Daddy!" from Michael.

So there!

Always remember the parks located next to your house, kiddies!

- Dave