We just took advantage of a little-known deal running for the rest of February -- The Met is offering FREE admission for families!
It's normally 20 bucks per adult, so even with parking at another 20-plus, you'll still have enough to spend at the excellent kids' gift shop on the second floor.
We just went yesterday and I highly recommend it!
What baby name(s) did you chose and why? Also, got any oddball name stories?
DD is Katherine. There are no real family connections, unless you count a couple of Katherines on my side about 200 years ago. We wanted a name that was timeless, convertible, with some "weight" to it. We didn't go with the alternate Kathryn, as we thought she'd forever have to spell it for people. She already has a last name she'll have to spell for people. With any luck, she'll marry a guy named Smith.
Now 6, DD has been Katie or Kate since birth, and Katherine usually only if she's in trouble. Maybe she'll stay Katie, or maybe she'll migrate to Kathy. If she grows up to be, say, a poet, perhaps Kat would be cool. It would go well with the black turtleneck and VW van. Of course, Katherine will always be fine for a bank president or something, and won't sound silly when she's 80.
Which ONE of your current tools do you love and why?
Yeah, I like most of mine, too. I love my old DeWalt power drill, beat up as it is, but for sheer destructive power, I gotta go with my Sawzall. Given enough time and blades, I could decommission a battleship with that puppy.
What ONE tool do you want and why?
I have coveted many tools. This ebbs and flows with the regular arrival of the Rockler catalog, issue of Fine Homebuilding -- Hell ANY tool publication will do. If I won the lottery right now, I think a SawStop table saw would be the first purchase.
So what does your wife do for a living, and what reactions does that provoke from others?
Mine is a middle school band director, and the reactions I get usually fall into two distinct categories:
Ice-breaker -- this works if a mom is into the arts (not common around here), or maybe once played an instrument herself, or married someone who plays. The rarity factor also helps. While I know many moms who are or were teachers, there are just far fewer women band directors. I think I'd get the same reaction if DW were, say, a welder or a pilot.
Conversation-killer -- this may have something to do with the awkward comfort level some people still have about teachers.
We just had DD's 6th birthday "kids" party. In past years, there has been a second, "grown up" party for extended family, since our 1500 sq. ft. of house would explode if we tried to do classmates and relatives all at once. However, with aging grandparents and changing family dynamics, I think the two parties may merge next year.
Our basic "kids" plan has not changed since the first preschool party:
Party at home (inside in January).
Number of guests roughly equal to the child's age - I figure this will top out soon at about 7 or 8.
Start off with a short craft or project at the table as guests arrive.
This was our local Memorial Day parade in 2002. Underneath is a Kelty Joyrider 20 - the best stroller made, if you ask me. Structure is pvc pipe, with cheap panelling for the sides, and a fabric top. I jammed the stuffed pony through a large-diameter pvc fitting and ran another length of 1" pvc back to the rear wheel so the pony rocked up and down as we moved.
I think there should be regional or national stroller-mod competitions. Then again, since my kid is now 6, I've sold off all my strollers! Maybe I could judge...
