Author Archives: Mike

Michael is the father of 3. His eldest, Daughter#1, is from a previous marriage and lives with her mother. She is a Sophomore in High School. Son#1 is 8 and is in Second Grade. The new addition to the family is a little baby girl, Daughter#2.

Michael has been married to his current wife for 8 years, but they’ve been together for 14 great years. She is a wonderful mother not only to Son#1, and Daughter#2, but to Daughter#1 as well.

Interests and credentials include being a Big Kid – because it makes it easier to relate to the kids, a Den Leader at his son’s Scout Pack, a Tinkerer – because he has plans of taking over the world someday, and he poses as a Web Developer in the daytime.

Michael still watches Saturday morning cartoons. It’s a great time to just quietly cuddle with his kids.

Is “Torquemada” your middle name?

You know that one device that is meant to keep your child safe in a car accident? Yes, the car safety seat. Did you know it doubles as a device of torture? How many times have you buckled your child in only to hear that incessant crying and screaming all the way to your destination? [...]

Oldie but Goodie

Like all past winters this one was no different. It snowed. It thawed. It froze. To add to all the things I don’t like about winter the snow plow drivers can be real jerks. I do my best to clear my driveway, and on the street 30 feet in either direction. My hope is that [...]

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

My son lost a tooth at school the other day. He has been so excited about the prospect of losing this tooth because he is saving up to buy a Wii and this pearly white will get him several steps closer to his goal. He excitedly told all his classmates about it and wouldn’t you [...]

The boy and his stone

A young boy was once given a stone. It was no ordinary stone. It was comfortable to hold, iridescent and warm. When held the stone would hum a faint beautiful melody. In the the boy’s eyes the stone was perfect in almost every way. In fact, its only blemish was some faint carving that had [...]

Too much family togetherness?

I have always heard funny stories from my Mom, Dad, Uncles and Aunts regarding life in the Philippines circa 1945-1955. This was always one of my favorites. After World War II large American and English companies, like International Harvester, Texaco and Smith Bell, started moving into the Philippines for commercial gain. The tiny little seaside [...]

Hints of Compassion

Last Friday was our town’s annual Christmas parade. My son and I walked the parade as part of his school’s Cub Scout pack. It was cold, but all the kids had a great time. We walked in front of a fire engine who’s driver enthusiastically honked that ultra loud, make-your-eardrums-bleed, emergency horn every couple of [...]

In this corner, wearing a look of desperation…

Lately, my eight year old son has been asking me some very deep questions. I have never been an authority regarding the questions he asks, and never will be. I was raised Catholic, and to this day practice most Catholic traditions. Yet as I get older there are things that are getting harder and harder [...]

The Traitor

We took my little girl to her 1 year checkup recently. These scheduled visits are always a mixed bag of emotions for me. On one hand I want to know how much she’s grown, and hear reassurances from the medical man that we’re doing good. On the other hand I know my little one is [...]