Smoking not advised

Another crazy and stupid self portrait. I swear this 365 is definitely making me not afraid to make a fool out of myself. Guess that is a good thing.

Apocalypse

I have had this idea for awhile and finally got the gas mask. The hardest part was making Frankie stop pretending that she was an elephant. Frickin' funny. Pretty sure i like this one better but included futuristic Apocalypse version in the comments.

Through the Tunnel

I went to the Oakland Zoo with the kids today.

Frankie had a blockbuster day in accomplishments.

It was the first time we went there without the stroller. She walked everywhere the whole time we were there.

We went on her first sky lift ride...30 feet over the zoo and she loved every minute of it waving at everyone that we passed and telling the animals below that we would be back to see them later.

She went on her first roller coaster and yelled "Wheeeeee" the entire ride. It was a little tiger one and wasn't very fast but to her it was the greatest ride ever.

She went on the merry-go-round on her own animal by herself. She waved as she went by every time saying "Daddy. Look at me. I am on the merry-go-round"

It is such joy to be able to witness each of these little accomplishments and to recognize and remember them. What she was wearing, what she said, the look on her face. There is nothing i would have rather done today. I always feel so present in the moment with her because it is too easy to miss these things that will never happen again. She will do all of these things a hundred times in her life but it will never again will it be the first. And I was there.

ROCK ON!

I am taking 4 teenagers to the Vans Warped Tour today. Something like 60 bands on 3 stages from 11AM - 10PM. Excited about Bad Religion, NOFX, The Dickies, FEAR, and a few others but most of the bands are this shitty new punk. What do these kids know about punk. I saw this tour 15 years ago before they were even born. Gonna be a long fucking day. I am too old for this shit. :-)

My wife is a badass

I still remember the first time that we kissed. Everything stopped for a few seconds then the world started spinning really fast around us but we weren't moving. It was like she and I were the only people existed and the world was spinning around us. I remember telling everyone that what i felt for her was "cosmic". I knew i sounded stupid but it was the only thing i could think of describe it. I still feel that way about her. She is my everything and I love her more than words can ever describe....it's "cosmic".

Got any cherries up in here?

So, Frankie is a big cherry fan. She eats them then makes this exaggerated spitting thing when spitting out the seeds into the bowl like it was a spittoon or something. Messy as heck as well.

Funny story behind the title. I went to the corner liquor store last Thanksgiving to get some...well liquor..cause that's what they sell.

Some white teenage kid all gangsta with his pants sagging and sticker still on his stupid hat turned sideways walks (wobbles) in and yells out to the guy behind the counter, "Got any cherries up in here?" I die laughing, tell the family, and know we use the line all the time...even when it makes no sense at all. Kind of an inside joke but feel free to use the line. People will laugh.

Good Morning Sunshine

I wanna hold your hand

Wigalicious

Had a Dad

So, I have been looking at everyone else's tributes to their dads. They are so sweet and I love them. But I am filled with a bit of jealously as well because my dad sucks.

I truly appreciate his participation in giving me life but that is about it. Wait...I do appreciate one more thing...showing me exactly what kind of person NOT to be.

This is the man that beat my mom, sister, and myself....sometimes for no reason as all. And if it wasn't physical abuse it was verbal. Like when my mom asked what he would like from the store he would say things like "A blonde...about 6 feet tall." He would tell my sister several times that "she was a mistake." He gave me an ulcer by the time i was 12. We needed a police escort to get out of the house when my mom divorced him around that same time.

This is the man who told me when I was 13 that it would only take $5000 to hire someone to kill my mom. That was the cost in 1983 so I am sure it has increased since then.

This is the man that would make me sit in the car after catching 7 innings in 90 degree weather so he could flirt with the other players moms.

This is the man from whom I learned every racial and sexual slur known to man from. The last time we saw him we took Hannah skating and he told her that the Mexicans were eyeing the rims on the zamboni.

The last time I spoke to him was 2 years ago on Father's day when he called me to ask me for $3000. I have not spoke to him since and don't plan on it. I don't even think of him daily but I did today for obvious reasons and I apologize for the downer and the rant but it is good to get it out.  There is so much more I am not even going to get into. 

He is the most depressing, sad, and evil person I know. I have tried by entire life to be the exact opposite of everything that he is.  I know I love my children and let them know that. I know they will never feel about me the way that i feel about him. I know that i have fucked up things and will do it again but that I will always apologize and raise them to be amazing, confident, and strong people. I know they will never be abused. I know they will never hear slurs from me. I know that I will not be him.

So, for all the good fathers out there...Happy Father's day. To my dad and all the other crappy dads out there...well, FUCK YOU!

Now, I am going to go spend some quality time with my kids.

Chuck Norris IS afraid...

of Frankie

Happy Friday

Just messing around. I am actually in a good mood. Seeing PJ Harvey tonight. Yay!

Light Angel

Frankie had a blast with this photo shoot.

Religion

Little Model

Frankie might be getting too much camera time. This is what I got today when I said let Daddy take a picture of you. 

umm...

Not really much to say about this one. Hello, creativity god...where have you been lately?

Dad, are you serious with this sunscreen?

Bedtime

This is Frankie's "I don't want to go to bed" face.

Big Head

Umm...title kind of says it all.

Faces

Playing around with long exposure.

Toe Luchador

Now available in Taco Bell Kid's meals...how cool is that?!?

Hannah on "View from the Bay"

Hannah had her big appearance on "View from the Bay" today to support the book she is included in called "She's Out There".  Available at Amazon.

She was composed, intelligent, and so cute. She did such an amazing job and we are so dang proud of her. Check out the video at http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/women_entrepreneurs&id=6856169

STRONG

An essay that Hannah wrote is included in a new book available now titled "She's Out There: Essays by 35 Young Women Who Aspire to Lead the Nation".  She is going to be on a afternoon talk show in the bay area called "View by the Bay" on Tuesday and has a book signing in Alameda on Thursday.

We couldn't be more proud of her.

I am extremely lucky to be married to the strongest woman I know and to help raise Hannah and Frankie to be strong women as well.

Frankie in Wonderland

Another shot I really like from our day at Fairyland. Frankie ran through the rabbit hole until she saw these guys. She paused for only a moment then bravely moved forward to meet them. :-)

Snow White LOVE

I took Frankie to Fairyland in Oakland today. She got super excited when she saw Snow White and her seven dwarfs. I told her to go say hi to Snow White. She went up to her and totally started to make out with her. I guess that is LOVE.

Stuck

Frankie had a little bit of an issue putting her shirt on today. 

ears.

Room with a view to the destruction of Los Angeles

Life of the Party.

Stoopid.

Bored in the hotel room in LA.

Tired.

Off to LA for E3. Will be taking shots but no way to upload. See ya all on Thursday.