Pablo and Doodles discuss what exactly neighbor cat may be doing on our deck. 

Because it’s May and it snowed/sleeted a little today. And I died a little inside wondering why we live here. Will it ever be kickball season again? How many layers will I need at Target Field for next week’s night game? How much is the next paycheck going to be? Will our house be as good as new when repaired from ice dam damage? There have been so many instances in the last year where I wanted to complain or feel sorry for myself and then I took a wider look around me and realized it’s going to be okay. It’s not so bad here. It could be a lot worse. My thoughts go out to those who do actually have it worse. It’s been pretty bad out there for so many in the world lately. It’s all about perpective and point of view. And you just don’t know how lucky you probably are. So, look at my adorable boys enjoying Winter. Hope they like it in May, too. These guys make me happy and as long as they’re okay, I’ll be ok. We’ll be ok. You will too. Hang in there. I’m probably thinking about you when I get a chance. 

April 2009 —> April 2011 - 2 years to the week & we can celebrate the notion this Saturday.

“I’m so alive.
All the risks that we take trying to make it through the night.
And if I can I will help you to survive. 
If you follow me I think we’ll be alright.
Knights of the Bright Side.

Oh, I feel it. The notion. Knights of the bright side.

I close my eyes.
In a moonlit sky, the stars can seem so bright.
And I won’t let you hit the ground this time.
If you stand by me, we can make it through this fight.
Knights of the bright side.

Oh I feel it. 
Raise a glass with me to celebrate the notion. 
We will toast the day that we became knights of the bright side.

Up from the ashes, born of flames.
I feel it. 
Raise a glass with me to celebrate the notion. 
We will toast the day that we became knights of the bright side.”

- J. Stensby/C. Dahlager

We Became Actors release their new LP, Something Major, at the Kitty Cat Club, 315 14th Avenue SE • Dinkytown • Minneapolis, MN 55414 • 612.331.9800 Sat. April 16th. Be there to raise a glass with us and toast them. 

9pm 21+ $5

Pretty Kids Collective presents:

Sam Cassidy and Red Daughters
We Became Actors play “Something Major” in its entirety
Idle Hands

DJ Kenny Kingston brings the DJ dance party to start off the night and in between sets.

If you can’t make it to the event, the album will also be available physically at Electric Fetus, on Itunes, Amazon and all major digital outlets. Or get it online directly from us at 
http://webecameactors.bandcamp.com/

Read the http://www.sahmmy.com/ElJefe.html piece when you get a chance, but watch the video as I’ve been dying to share it for a month. Excuse the shakes, I had three cameras and was welling with pride. 

Check out the new Sahmmy.com including an interview with old friend Neil Flynn of The Middle and Scrubs.  Pablo and Doodles become Jedi and defeat the Darths at the happiest place on earth. 

The Happiest Place on Earth

Last month, we took Pablo (6) and Doodles (4) to Disneyland for the first time.  The day started great. It was a crisp, pretty clear, partly sunny, 55-degree day in Anaheim. But by lunchtime it was gray, cloudy, pouring rain and Pablo had a fever. You’d think most people (or at least we) would leave and the lines would get shorter. But when you’ve spent almost $300 just to get in to the happiest place on earth, you become a bit like Clark Griswold. I tried to ignore the fact that Pablo got a fever and didn’t want to go on any scary rides by focusing on Doodles while finding relaxing attractions for Mama and Pablo to get out of the rain. I was still going to ensure that our family had so much goddamn fun we would be whistling zippity doo-dah out of our assholes.

Fortunately, because of one event, we did. No matter what else happened that day, like the rain, and the buying of new dry Mickey Mouse socks, and the sitting inside watching creepy animatronic Presidents and the Pinocchio ride being like some expressionistic Grimm German nightmare…one event made it all worthwhile.  Pablo and Doodles became Jedi Padawans at the Jedi Training Academy. For months they had known it was the first thing they wanted to do when we got to the Magic Kingdom.

Some Dads might beam with pride and remembrance when their boy learns to ride a bike or hits a home run. Sure, I have those moments, too. But only a select few will ever be lucky enough to see their kids get picked amongst more freaky parents than me that had signs saying, “Pick my son. His midi-chlorian count is high!” or “The Force is Strong with This One!” I kid you not. Parents brought signs. It was like they were trying to get picked at The Price is Right or to get Bert Blyleven to circle them during a Twins game at Target Field only way nerdier. But who’s more of a nerd? The nerd or the nerd who follows them? We, however, just got to the show early enough to get in the front row and well, the rest of what happened was captured in this amateur video.  I was juggling all my touristy metro-daddy accessories - Flip, iPhone and Canon - all going at once to commemorate the day that my boys became Jedi.  Enjoy the video and I’ll share more observations about Disneyland.

Pablo (6) is front & center with blonde hair/gray & blue shirt/green light saber.

Doodles (4) is on stage in background with blonde hair/blue & white sweatshirt/blue light saber.

VIDEO – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B08kt9IDtIA 

I actually said aloud to my wife that no matter what else happened that day, this made it worth it. But it was as though I had called down a curse from above because soon after the sky opened. And that’s when we had a pretty rough second half of the day in the rain and Pablo got sick.

The Good:

Peter Pan ride is still a joy for all ages. It’s old school in all the right ways. Another classic is the Matterhorn Bobsleds. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride is still a wonder, too.  At 15 minutes long, it’s totally worth it. Jack Sparrow and other new characters have been added seamlessly. It was one of Doodles’ faves. Pablo said Jedi Training was his favorite.

For a newer kind of ride try Indiana Jones Adventure. Pablo was afraid to go on it, but younger Doodles brought all his bravery. He was just barely 46” (got measured twice) and able to enjoy it, though he closed his eyes and ducked down a lot through that and the Haunted Mansion. The Buzz Lightyear shooting gallery ride was a hit with everyone. Pablo loved the Enchanted Tiki (“Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki”) Room, though that may have been fever enhanced.  Doodles and I went off to do rides while poor sick Pablo and Mama watched shows and movies indoors at the park.

The Bad:

The aforementioned Pinocchio’s Daring Journey has little redemption after it’s nightmarish middle. We took the dare and the kids got scared. Great. Thanks, Walt! At least we knew enough to not even attempt the helpfully named Snow White’s Scary Adventures. (Yet Doodles insisted on trying The Haunted Mansion.)

The Autopia car ride was experienced umbrellas up during a downpour and we ended up more wet than if we would have done a log flume. The lines were still long for most attractions as everyone must have been as maniacal as Griswold and me. It’s difficult to see all you want to in one day, so if you have time, get a two day pass.

Our family having to split up for half the day wasn’t as fun, a major downer, but can’t blame Disney for the fever, or can I?

The Ugly:

It’s unbelievable expensive. Just to get into the park we were already out about $300 with parking. Bring your own food because to eat or drink anything there is ridiculously pricey. Just don’t. But you won’t be able to avoid your wet sick kid looking up at you and just wanting some popcorn or other treat.

Overall, it’s a really expensive memory to make and maybe a cliché, but I think going to Disneyland is still one of those experiences you should give your kids if you can.

The all-new Star Wars 3-D attraction is opening later this year…so yeah, you know El Jefe and his Padawans will be back in town someday soon.

Mama free falls and conquers fear. Doodles covers his eyes on the crossing. We make our own theater of the absurd at the Guthrie. 

The boys are boxing boxes again. They ask me to draw bad guys on the boxes. Then they don Mama’s boxing gloves and punch-out, sometimes each other, too. It’s an activity which combines art and sport. Win, win.

Summer Swinging: more role reversal as Mama swings through the air whilst the boys take the iPhotos. 

“Happy Birthday, America. Hope you like crap.” - Jeff Tweedy, Wilco

While looking for something educational and patriotic for Pablo y Doodles to watch on this rainy 4th of July morning, I stumbled upon Liberty’s Kids on Netflix Watch Instantly. The boys have reduced the early history of our country’s independence to Red Coats (Bad Guys) vs. Blue Coats (Good Guys). Doodles wants to be the Red Coats and is wondering why they are not putting more of these Patriots in jail (Boston circa 1774). Meanwhile Pablo just wants to see Paul Revere do his thing. 

If you don’t have Netflix, you can learn along with us at: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/LibertysKidsTV

But you should have Netflix.

The kinda awesome, kinda terrible theme song is “Through My Eyes” by Aaron Carter and Kayla Hinkle. Oh, and Walter Cronkite stars as bad ass Benjamin Franklin, the Father of Lightning as one British court member called him. So, yeah, we’re watching this now. And it’s not that bad, actually. OK, we like it. And there are 40 episodes with vocal talents by Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Billy Crystal and many more. Here comes the Sun, gotta go. Enjoy your holiday. Be proud to be an American again. 

Doodles started this during dinner. I don’t know what it is. But I know another father, Eli, talked to me this weekend about the boys’ different personalities. Eli thinks Pablo is more serious, perhaps like Mama and Doodles is sillier, perhaps like me, Jefe.

This might be accurate. Doodles has been going for laughs instead of athletic prowess when playing Tee-Ball. Which is not to say that Tee-Ball for 4-6 year olds is about athleticism. But instead of really trying to hit the ball, he wound up with a big faux swing and tapped, ever so slightly, the ball off the tee. The other parents laughed, a lot. So he did it again. I witnessed my son getting a big public laugh and then trying to repeat it. He’s hooked on the comedy bug now. He may be going for that sound of an audience laughing for the rest of his life. 

Pablo is funny, too. He can be shy at first but when he finds his spot, he’s a real song and dance man. He’s also the director, the play dictator, the older brother leader. Doodles waits to place his breakfast or lunch requests until hearing what big brother orders. Then he orders the same item, much to Pablo’s chagrin. Being a big brother has its’ burdens. I know. 

For these photos, create your own captions?