I realized something about purchasing toilet paper yesterday.  I don't mind buying it, but only in the right circumstances.  Allow me to exlpain:

See, when you are out getting essentials at Target, possibly even the grocery store, and you get TP, to an outside view it simply looks like another person stocking up on the essentials like we all do. 

However, if you buy TP, and only TP, it sends a completely different message.  To an outside view, THIS scene says at best - you did not plan well;  and at worst - there is some kind of emergency which we would rather not think about.  It says that you are trying to recover from an embarrasing mistake, even if none of these things are true.

But then, I tend to over-think things.

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I had a scary Sunday.  You may have seen this story on KGET.  I had just come home from picking up some groceries when I heard a 'pop' sound.   I ran over to see what was going on, and 2 units (top and bottom) were COMPLETELY engulfed in flames. I was the first one there and called 911. Soon after, I saw the lady who lives in the lower one(thankfully wasn't inside) running towards it. Apparently she had only been away 10 minutes or so.  Since I was the first to see it, I later had to give a statement to the fire investigater and was interviewed by one of the news crews on scene (although they didn't use my interview-as they say I have a face for radio). Nobody was hurt, although some pets were in the fire.

It was really scary considering how close it was. Heck, it was scary just seeing it up close. I had no idea if it would just shoot across the complex, and I was trying to decide if I should grab anything out of our home, and what to grab. It was a scary reminder of how quickly that can happen. I stood really close to the lady who lived in one of the, and she was obviously devestated. Everything she owns, including some pets, gone. Thankfully, the fire department showed up very quickly and put it out before it spread. No word yet on what caused it. Praise God it wasn't any closer. Even my clothes smell like smoke just from being out there.  The fire was so hot, it actually melted the tail lights and licsense plate covers of the cars parked across from it.

It messed with my head too.  I've not wanted to turn anything in my place on in fear that a short will set my unit ablaze.  Last night, I remember waking up a couple times in a sleepy haze and checking my phone, afraid that it was over heating and would start a fire.

That on top of my wife and child being stranded in Pheonix and breaking my cell phone (only phone I have in which to contact said stranded family), it was an interesting weekend.

With the hot temps, we have been in the pool at our apt complex much more.  Our little Z really loves the pool, but is VERY clingy.  She will hold either the edge of the pool, sit on the steps, or cling to one of us if it is off of the first step in.  Even if she is wearing a life jacket.

We have been working with her to show her how to swim, holding her and letting her kick and paddle.  Yesterday, we finally started pulling away and letting her float on her own with the life jacket.  I would stand JUST out of reach (the jacket keeps her floating just fine, head well above the water) and she would whine a lot until she could grab on again.  But, after a long while out there, the whining went down, as her confidence went up.  By the end, she was 'swimming' back and forth between me and Becky, and as soon as she would get to one of us, immediately want to swim back to the other. 

It was so much fun watching her get more confident, but as silly as it sounds, a small part of me glimpsed the future.  All the times ahead that she will become more independant, do more things by herself, eventually letting herself float much farther from her mommy and daddy.

I don't have to worry about that for a while, but I know time goes fast.  At least I can always focus on the fact that I was there in the beginning, teaching her to swim in the first place.

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Hey everyone.  I wonder if you might be willing to do something for me.  The Z-Rock has been entered into a competition with Parenting magazine.  If you have a second, could you help us out?  Just click on the link:

http://www.parents.com/app/...= 

There are 2 things you can do there.  Above the picture, you can click on the word 'recommendation' and to the left of that is a set of stars you can click as a rating (we won't stop you from clicking 5). Keep in mind, you can do this for each one of the photos.

Who knows, maybe if she wins and gets in the magazine, we can even drop a plug for Raising Bakersfield!!

Thanks everyone!

Have a great Fathers day weekend!  I'm looking forward to mine.  Since I've been a father, my fathers day has consisted of a blockbuster, super hero movie and a day of relaxing with the family.  This weekend will be no different. 

Hope you enjoy yours!

I see my name is featured with a couple others on the front page as one of the 'dad bloggers.'  Sooooo, I guess I'm pretty famous now.

I'm a little scatter-brained today, so rather than a coherent post that goes somewhere, here is a mess of thoughts that have recently been in my head:

• I like that there are free movies at the ampitheater at the park at riverwalk
• I'm excited for the upcoming rock show called 'Level 6' that I will be starting on 88.3
• On this day (June 11) in 1976, Wild Cherry released the song 'Play That Funky Music'
• Taking your dad to see The Incredible Hulk is a GREAT fathers day idea
• Today I recieved a box of some great, underground hip-hop.  It was like Christmas
• tacos
• That last one was the only one in the list not capitolized
• Life is good

There, got that out of my system.  Thanks.

I just read someone elses blog on here who mentioned a couple of the jokes her kids like to tell.  It is funny how really awful jokes can be really funny coming from your kids.  Especially if they don't make any sense.  We've tried to teach Z-rock the knock knock joke that ends 'orange you glad I didn't say bananna?'  She loves to tell it, but this is her version:

-Knock knock

-Who's there?

-bananna

-bananna who?

-BANANNA!!

At this point, she starts laughing hysterically.  I wonder what other kinds of not-quite right or just plain 'don't make sense' jokes your kids have told.

Wow.  I had no idea.  In the past, we have asked around about cool places to visit that are nearby.  Kern Canyon had come up a couple times, but for whatever reason I hadn't given it much thought.

On Saturday, we packed up lunch, and headed out on 178.  I was pleasantly surprised at how close and how beautiful it is out there!  On top of that, we actually really love that kind of weather too, rain clouds and temps in the 70s.  I love going to the coast, but even that almost seems to costly a trip now with gas over four bucks, so its nice to know there is another beautiful getaway so close by. 

Bakersfield is growing on me.  The city has a bad rap, which I heard repeatedly from people before moving here, but I think its got such a great location to be in so many different types of places within 2 hours or less.

Anyways, all that is to say I think I've found my new 'getaway' place.

With a 3 day weekend ahead, I am looking forward to a break.  Especially after a busy week (and its only Wednesday!).  We can't really afford to do any vaccation right now, not even a 'near by' vaccation.  So, I want to try to simulate one at home. 

Pretty much my favorite things to do when we ARE able to get away is to be completely chill.  I love to swim all day, then order pizza to the hotel, and watch movies into the night.  A stunning realization- I can do all those things AT HOME.  Sure, there is something about actually being away that makes the difference, but no reason we can't have a faux-vaccation. 

Anyone know of any fun things happening over memorial weekend? 

Do any of you listen to podcasts?  I have several that I listen to regularily. 

If Raising Bakersfield were to have a podcast, would you listen to it?  If you do not listen to them now, would you if this site hosted one?  Something that featured local events, interviews with childhood experts and doctors who could answer your questions. and hosted by a local couple?

Just curious how many of you would be interested in something like that.  I love podcasts because I can listen to them whatever I'm doing.  I can be working or driving or whatever, so don't have to make extra time for them.