GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch this video.

Further comment would be superfluous.

I need a beer!

Achooooo!!

I realize this is a "family adventures" website but I really feel I should share with you a glimpse of some truly scholarly activity.

First check out this link....

Then you can confirm its authenticity by checking out the citation at the National Library of Medicine site here.

I assume this has been peer-reviewed.

I can just imagine the gathering of experimental data.

I guess you could call this... "pushing back the foreskin of science"

Ramblings from The Burgh

Summer is finally packing its toothbrush and canceling the milk, ready for a vacation down south. In some ways I am dreading the arrival of the chilly weather (and boy does it ever get chilly) but in another way I will be glad to see the back of sweaty nights when I can't sleep cos it is too hot and being endlessly soaking wet from cycling in 90 degree temperatures.

Adam seems to be loving his new school which is absolutely massive for us. Comments at the end of the day when asked "how was school" include...."wonderful" which frankly is hard to believe but I'll take that any day over a grunt and a shrug.

My new regime of dropping him off and picking him up on the bike means that I am getting to know the staff quite well which is great. Mr Nardini, Adam's class teacher, is a very cool dude. Lots of communication with the parents and very quick to praise good behavior and point out "issues" so they can be dealt with.

One thing that strikes me about Adam is how comfortable he is in saying what he thinks. For example, when I picked him up today he saw Jon McCann, the headteacher, standing in the yard. The conversation that followed went something like this.

Adam: There's Jon McCann

Me: Yeah???

Adam: Well...er....I just wanna have a quick chat with him

Me: Err

Jon McCann: What's up Adam? (or similar)

Adam: Alright?...Anyway I was wondering why it says "Principal's Office" on your office door....seein that your never in there"

OPEN MOUTHED SILENCE....(I have to say that Adam wasn't trying to suggest a lack of attention to duty on Mr McCann's part so no deduction of house points so far)

Shortly after this came the following exchange,

Jon McCann: Adam...do any of the other kids in your class ever comment on your different accent?

Adam: Yes

Jon McCann: Don't worry....they'll stop that soon when they get used to it

Adam: Do your secretaries and teachers ever comment on your different accent? (Jon McCann is English)

PAUSE: (honest question so still full marks)

Jon McCann: No I just tell them to shut it

PAUSE: (Adam was clearly considering this as a possible strategy)

Adam: I'll just tell them that I must be talking properly cos I talk like the principal.

There's not much you can add to that really is there?

Recent activities have included a lightening quick camping trip in Laurel Ridge State Park last weekend which was fab.

Also I've been riding alot with my buddy Avi. He is writing a book on cycling routes in Pittsburgh neighborhoods and there is a sort of book launch/ride party coming up in two weeks when we will do the entire ride (I think it is 80 miles which means I am in trouble).

Anyway....some pics of the camping and kids and Avi and bike rides and stuff. As you can see....Adam loves the Hobbitt. We are reading it together.

Cranky

My peddling muscles are getting stronger thanks to a rather challenging morning commute. Adam has started in first grade at the Frick Environmental Charter School in Regent's Square. This is a new venture that exists outside the Pittsburgh School District and, consequently, has more freedom to design its curriculum than the other local (mired in bureaucracy) schools. Because the school is on the doorstep (literally) of Frick Park the daily learning activities are designed to get the kids into the park at every opportunity. Not sure how this will work but I think it is a very cool idea and clearly lots of other mums and dads do too as the school is oversubscribed despite being brand new. Adam is in Mr Nardini's class and the head is a Brit so you can't beat that can ya? And it's FREEEEEEEE!!!

Anyway...the morning commute.

Adam and I peddle from Wightman St around the edge of Frick Park and into Regent's Square. After I have dropped him off I descend into Frick Park and out the other side into Squirrel Hill. Then I go down the Schenley Park trail and into Panther Hollow before climbing back out into Oakland where I stop at my fave coffee venue (The Crazy Mocha/Dancing Goat). Then the whole process is repeated at the end of the day, after which I collapse in a chair and have a doze until tea time.

Cool!

THIS is a very cool idea

Wish I had thought of it ;-)

Sophia is 4!!!

Happy Birthday Sophia!

Millie the Minx turned 4 yesterday and so today (which is a bank holiday) she had a small gang of buddies over for a tea party. Adam and I made ourselves scarce by heading to the park for a kick around.



Life has been busy lately but we have found time for some bike rides and canoe trips. Shaz has spent the last week or so of the school hols by making the most of the local kid focused attractions such as the zoo and Carnegie Science Center.

One of the cool things about Pittsburgh is the network of cycling trails which seem to be expanding and a nice way to get to the Science Center, which is near downtown, is to peddle along the river on one of the trails. Shaz has been making the most of this and getting around with the kids on bikes.



Shaz also took the kids to Idlewild, which is a water theme park, with the Mastriano family which (I hear...sniff) was fun.



Last Sunday we had a quiet paddle and a swim at Raccoon Creek. Sadly we were ordered out of the lake when the ranger caught us swimming "away from the designated beach" I am now a grumpy old man and definitely do not appreciate such mindless "law" enforcement. As you can see from the pic....independent swimming is banned but blowing poor innocent Canada Geese away is quite acceptable. After all...they shit on the beach in the designated swimming area and we can't have that can we?

After all this fuss I just had to chill out at the Church Brew-works with a pint of Celestial Gold.

Muttley From the Wacky Races Does the Weather

THIS made me laugh more than it should...

In case you'd forgotten...HERE is the original. Classic stuff.