Wacky Giveaway - $50 toward a www.localpages.com purchase!

How does $50 toward an electronics purchase at www.localpages.com sound!  This giveaway opens 9 pm on May 26th and closes at 9 pm on June 2nd.  Good luck!

Once again Wacky Dad is delivering for my readers! $50 toward an electronics purchase through www.localpages.com.   Local Pages is the leader in local coupons, discounts, and advertising. Local Pages has a ton of shopping deals available at your fingertips. Plus they want to give you $50 to make it more fun! All you need to do is comment on this post and say why you are most proud of your son or your daughter. Make it wacky because I am the judge on this one!

*Eligibility requirements: In order to be eligible to win, commenters must be at least 18 years old, reside in the U.S. and must not have won any Local Pages giveaways within the past 30 days. There is a one prize per household limit per 30 day period. 

My Daughters Dance in The Spotlight

Abby and Ailey are the 2 girls right in the middle

I have to take 1 post to brag a bit about my 2 older daughters.  This week they performed in the "Chance To Dance" show at the Providence Performing Arts Center here in RI.  For you out of staters, "PPAC" is our small state's most beloved of theaters.  It is truly a historical gem, and is absolutely gorgeous inside.  My parents used to watch movies in this ornate theater as kids, but now it is for live shows.  "Chance to Dance" is an established arts program that gives Rhode Island children in grades three through six a unique hands-on experience with the arts. From October through May, children participate in weekly dance classes held in their schools during school hours. These classes are taught by specially trained, professional dance teachers and are accompanied by a live musician. The program concludes with a full scale dance performance at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

 My girls really loved the experience of being out in front of a crowd of a thousand or so people.  The dances were pretty well put together for kids that only practiced once a week.  The best thing was seeing how excited they were to perform in such an important venue as PPAC.  These photos don't do the theater any justice but they give you the sense of this place's history.  Abby and Ailey, I was proud to watch you dance on such a big and imposing stage.  Just the thought of me doing it makes me want to hide behind a couch!  I don't know where you both find the guts to get out in front of a crowd and perform with such grace.  I am very proud to be your dad you two!

Love,


Wacky Dad

Parenting - Help Your Kid Win!

     Today was a quiet day at the Costantino household.  My older girls were out with mom for recital pictures and Mia hung out with me, that is until Papa came along and picked her up for a Sunday ride.  I used this time to tackle some needed repairs to my lawn equipment that I haven't had a chance to get done this year.  I also repaired a seriously broken down bicycle that my buddy Billy needed fixed for one of his kids.

I realized while working on my broken lawnmower just how much I really enjoy taking something that is not working and fixing it.  You see, when I was a young kid I did not typically play with normal toys.  Instead, I would scour my neighborhood, looking for broken-down lawnmowers left behind in other people's trash, and I would take them all apart and then make them run again.  I didn't do it to eventually cut grass, I did it just to prove to myself that I could fix them.  
I grew up with my hands in grease.  By the time I was five years old, I could pick out socket sizes by sight alone and all through my young life, I worked with my dad on all of our old shit-box cars!  
It never really dawned on me until today just why I loved fixing all of these old junkers.  It was the feeling of success, of "winning", that accompanied the successful repair (and not a Charlie Sheen type 'winning' but a true 'winning, win').  I was able to take a motor that someone had thrown away as trash and "ressurect it from the dead".  In my mind I was winning, and I still win every time I repair one of these little motors.  To this day, I still have never bought a lawnmower or weedwacker.  The ones I own have all been "derelicts" that people have given me.  The rider-tractor I own was bought used for $200, and the snowblower, leaf blower, and hedge trimmer I have were all bought at yard sales for under $20.  Every time I fix one of these babies, I win again.  Not just monetarily, but psychologically too!
    Ok, so are you wondering what this has to do with kids?  Here it is.  No matter what it is, I think it is important to give your kids the gift of winning.  It doesn't matter what they win at, but make sure they win.  When I repaired those lawnmowers as a kid, I wasn't beating anyone in a race or winning a medal or trophy, but I was filled with the knowledge that I could master any broken down motor.  Feeling that kind of success has made a big difference in my life.  If you can win at one thing, then you start to think "why can't I succeed at other things".  I know this seems simple but it is easy to overlook while we are all trying so hard to expose our kids to a multitude of different experiences.  Don't get me wrong, I am all for diversity and life experience.  But once your kids do find something they love, and that they excel at, then help them focus on it.  It can be music, art, academics, sports, or cockroach racing, it doesn't matter.  When they are succeeding, make sure they know they are "winners". 
Pretty soon you will have kids that have great self confidence, and aren't afraid to take on new tasks.  I am definitely not a psychologist - I am just a dumb kid from West Warwick, RI, but I am convinced that this feeling of success is extremely important in helping us grow into happy, healthy, and productive adults.  Something as simple as fixing broken trash can make your kids life more complete, you just need to help them find the right "trash heap"!  Good luck!




Greasy Handed and Happy,


Wacky Dad 
   

Doomsday Is Upon Us!

Hey, Wacky Dad here!  Pretty sure nobody noticed I've been gone for a couple of weeks.  I was part of a team running a large walk/run for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.  We had a successful event that raised around $130,000 for fighting pancreatic cancer, so I have an "excused absence" from writing!  I am glad to be back just before "the end of the world as we know it".
     Yes, it is true.  The end-of-days is upon us.  I read all about it in a well informed piece in Yahoo News!  Apparently, some very important prophets have decided that Saturday the-gig-is-up.  Rapture, Sodom and Gommorah, armageddon, the whole nine yards.  Yup, we're screwed.  So we have about 24 hours to live out our life's dreams.  How will you handle it?  Are you heading for the confessional to try to atone for your sins?  I'm not.  Here is my schedule for the next 26 or so hours that I have to live life "as I know it."


11:00pm - 6:00 am 


Get a really good nights rest.  I want to be well rested for my ascent to heaven.  I hope they have a helicopter, preferably a "Huey" with #06 painted on the side, to get me up there.




6:00am-7:00am 

Clean up the dog shit in the back yard.  God forbid St. Peter or one of those other guys steps in dog shit on his way to pick me up. That is a guaranteed ticket straight to Beelezebub.




7:00am - 8:00am
Go and get the "hungryman special" down at the Beacon Diner in North Kingstown.  I ain't taking a long ass trip up to the pearly gates without something in me that is gonna stick-to-my-ribs.


8:00am - 5:00pm
I better go to work for the day....  Eternal damnation has nothing on the ass-chewing I'd endure if I skipped out of work.


5:00pm - 6:00pm 
Eat dinner with the family.  Explain to my wife that she is the reason I am getting a first class ticket to eternal life with Yahweh.  Reassure her that hell ain't all that bad...


7:00pm - 8:00pm
Read to the kids.  I have been doing this for nearly 11 years and no stinking rapture is going to break my stride.  Tell the kids I'll see them in the afterlife, and remind Mia, "don't forget your baby and binky".  Hopefully I don't come back as a toenail or something - Oh wait, wrong faith.


8:00pm - 10:00pm
Brush up on the bible for a couple of hours - is that available for my Kindle?  If not, I'm not reading it.  I'll just wing it.  There has to be something on Wikipedia about it.  Right?






10:00pm - 10:30pm 
Shave and Shower


10:30pm - 11:00pm


Spit shine the dress blue shoes and press my uniform.  Everyone knows that "If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven’s scenes; They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines."  I am not missing out on that!  One more chance to show up all you swabbies and doggies!






11:00pm-11:30pm
Perform an emergency liposuction procedure on myself to help "shoehorn" my fat ass into my dress blues.


11:30pm - 11:45pm
Find a goddamned lightbulb to put in the front door light socket so that St. Peter knows I am here and doesn't skip me.  You know, just like Halloween.  Wonder if he says trick or treat???


11:45pm - 11:50pm Clean up the dogshit again - you never know.  And I don't give a damn where the dog ends up, she really deserves hell since I whole heartedly think she is satan's spawn!


11:50pm - 12:00am
Eat a piece of the Banana Cream Pie that my friend Lisa made for me from the 5 thousand pounds of left-over bananas donated to the PanCan walk. Heaven or not, they aren't going to have that good shit up there!


Midnight - I begin my ascent into bliss...  
*All of the Saugy hot dogs I can eat.
*Skiing year round, no torn ligaments/broken ribs/smashed kneecaps.  
*I will head for the pool bar.  Yeah, they have those in heaven, and have a few beers.  
*My kids will never fight or talk loudly again.  
*My wife (if she makes it) will never bitch about anything again (ok Cath, you know this is satirical, right?).  
*Also, I will jump on my bike and kick Lance Armstrong's ass on an ascent up Alpe D'Huez.  


You know - all of the normal stuff.  Yeah, you get the point...a meatheads dream!


Ok, back to reality...
On Saturday morning, it is probably going to rain for the 8th day in a row, and I will step in dog shit while I clean up the sodden masses in the backyard.  Either way, I am one happy husband, dad, and camper...Armageddon or not!


In a State Of Rapture!

Wacky Dad  


  

Franconia Notch State Park - Franconia, NH

Check Out Franconia Notch State Park this summer - Amazing place to see and discover as a whole family.  On the "Best side" of the Kancamangas.  Check out the photo and video below...It's the most beautiful place in NH. 
This Wacky dad just LOVES this place!

"Welcome to Franconia Notch State Park, located in the heart of the popular White Mountain National Forest. Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway which extends from the Flume Gorge at the south to Echo Lake at the north. For eight miles, I-93 winds between the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges. Download the Franconia Notch State Park Hiking Map. Franconia Notch was the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain, the same "Great Stone Face" immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster. While you are here, stop at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and walk through the renowned Flume Gorge, ride the exciting aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain, and visit the New England Ski Museum. Take your time, stop for a swim at Echo Lake, net a trout while fly fishing at Profile Lake, ride your bike on the Recreational Trail, watch for rock climbers, hawks, and falcons on Cannon Cliffs, or hike on the Appalachian Trail. Bring the family, stay awhile, and enjoy Franconia Notch State Park." Directions to FNSO -   It's easy to get to Franconia Notch State Park - access directly from I-93!  Take I-93 north, or south,   depending on your starting point. Once you have reached Franconia Notch State Park, I-93:    Exit 34A - The Flume Gorge & Visitor's Center, Gift Shop, Cafeteria, Rest Rooms    Exit 34B - Cannon Mountain Tramway, New England Ski Museum, Old Man Museum, Gift Shop, Rest Rooms  Exit 34C - Cannon Mountain RV Park, Echo Lake Beach, Parking for Artists Bulff & Bald Mountain Trails. LAFAYETTE CAMPGROUND:    FROM THE SOUTH: If you are coming from the south on I-93, continue north on I-93, past the campground (on left side of Parkway) to Exit 34B (Cannon Aerial Tramway). Turn left at the bottom of the exit, cross under the Parkway, then go left, getting back on the Parkway headed south. Take the exit for Lafayette Campground on right.    FROM THE NORTH: If you are coming from the north, proceed on Route 93 south past Exit 34B (Cannon Aerial tramway). The exit for Lafayette Place is on the right, between Exit 34B & Exit 34A. GPS USERS:  Most GPS systems do not recognize our address (9 Franconia Notch, Franconia, NH 03580) and will generate incorrect directions.  Here are our coordinates that may* help:  N 44° 10.367’  W 071° 41.536’ *Cannon does not guarantee the accuracy of these coordinates or the directions generated by your GPS system. Drive Times:  Concord: 1 hour   Nashua: 1 3/4 hours   Boston: 2 1/2 hours   Hartford: less than 3 hours   Providence: 3 1/2 hours  Montreal: less than 3 hours  FNSP Webpage -  http://www.cannonmt.com/fnsp.html