Updates from October, 2025

 Had a birthday party for New Dad (who I'm not sure should be called New Dad anymore as he has an 11 year old. And should I still be talking about myself in the third person?). Here's some reflections on the party and the current state of things...   

Party was lots of fun. Started the day by opening presents in bad (family tradition), then went to Spo-Cha with son which was awesome as usual - ping pong, batting cages, volleyball, and a little video games. Season pass just ran out. Should get one next year. Calendar reminder - go!

Kid Updates

-Had a swim meet Sunday morning, day after my birthday. Didn't start until 9am but they want the kids there by 7am which makes no sense, but wife was willing to take him since she gets up early and it was the day after my birthday, which I may have drank a bit. Got there by 9am to be the announcer because it's with the YMCA and mostly volunteer run it seems, though I swear we pay over $100 a month to belong, so I'm not sure where that money goes... (Chlorine in the pool?)

-Kid still requests to "be DJ" in the car. Current playlist includes "Delirious" by Prince," "Soda Pop" in French, from KPOP Demon Hunters Soundtrack, "September" by Earth, Wind, and Fire, "When Doves Cry" by Prince. Recently, it had been Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" every day to school. I mean, every day. And to be honest, I only got a little tired of it. Freddy Mercury, man, that guy had the pipes. (Though the lyric "I'm a sex machine, ready to reload..." explains why I hadn't heard it on the radio growing up...and why it's questionable to let your 11 yr old listen to it EVERY DAY)

New Dad Updates

-Started investing in stocks b/c of Andy, but not too much because I'm a wimp butI don't like to admit it nor write that word so I may go back and delete what I just wrote, but if you're reading this then I haven't...

-Been working out with Ryo for a few years now, and was described by my sister as "buff but just lose that belly" a few months back, which seems accurate. 

-Recently Hired A at work, taking a load off our day to day.

-Went to Rhode Island family trip. Great time. Competed in Cubing. Should update that blog. (Cubing Dad). Had a teen judge watch how slow my Skewb solve was and comment, "Are you here with your kid or something?" Funny stuff. Also, people were very consulatory when I didn't make the cutoff for Clock.  It's alright, kids, I don't base my whole identity on my solve...but it was sweet.

-Watched the second-longest world series game (Dodgers-Blue Jays, Game 3). Wife came downstairs toward the end, surprised I was still up watching it: "You're still watching this game? It's not even the last game." Sees the score. "Is the score the same? And you're still watching?" Lol. She apologized later, but I'm not sure she should have. It's a reasonable reaction.

11 Year Old - Plays DJ on the way to school

Driving to school, he often asks to play DJ. I hand him my phone in the back seat - though he's 5 ft 4, probably doesn't need the back seat right now.

Some recent tracks he plays off my phone:

Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones

The Passenger - Iggy Pop

Quote - 10 years, 1 month

 "All a kid ever needs is some video games, a book, and a friend." -While chatting with his friend Sean on the phone and waiting to play Splatoon 3 with him. 

For the first time in forever...

 School day. Got up at 7 and made it down shortly after. Boy was already eating breakfast and turns to me and says, "You're up early...'For the first time, in forever...." singing that last part straight out of Frozen.

Super Band Members + Golfing

 Played 9 holes with the boy at the Whittier Narrow Mountain 9 course on Saturday morning. Well, technically we played the whole course.

Had a really good time. 

On the way to the course, the boy asked, "What if there was a band with the best members of other bands?"

me: Like a super group?

him: Yeah. 

me: Who would you pick?

him: The drummer from block party, Slash (GnR), Paul from the Beatles-

me: Paul from the Beatles?

him: On bass. He's a good bass player.

me: Alright. Who else?

him: And Taylor Swift singing.

me: That's a pretty good group.

...

Later, on the golf course, I mentioned granddad - because I was using granddad's clubs, and used to golf with him - and the boy said, "You miss granddad a lot, don't you." and I said, "Yeah, yeah I do," and it was hard to say without, well, crying. And then we played more golf.

Music - I call DJ

 On the way to school or anywhere, son often says, "I call DJ."

I hand him my phone and he chooses songs, mostly off of his playlist.

Recently this has been:

On the way to school:

Sweet Child of Mine

Hotel California

Take on Me

All Star by Smashmouth

He learned Patience on guitar, so the G n R makes sense.

Oh, sometimes he throws in Heart of Gold by Neil Young or Wild Horses by the Rolling Stones. Both great songs.

He's recently heard Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo, and likes it The clean version, that is.

What else... learning I Saw her Standing There by The Beatles on guitar. One time he asked me, "What does, 'You know what I mean,' mean in the lyrics, 'She was just 17, you know what I mean.' 

My answer to that was a lot of fumbling. I mean, it's really hard to explain, if you think about it.

Said recently - thru July 2023

 Boy: What are my talents?

Me: So many things. Reading, Some sports. Some video games. Some musical instruments. Learning things quickly, sticking with some things. 

Boy: What are your talents?

Me: Some people say Being funny.

Boy: No, that's not it. Wiggling your ears and raising one eyebrow at a time.

...

This morning, wanted to show me some chords he learned for the song Patience. Yes, the one by Guns N Roses. 

Showed me the D chord, and how he lifts his pinky. Corrected my form when I played it. "It looks like your hand is going to the side. Try up and down."

Then played Splatoon 3 on the Nintendo Switch nearly all morning while I did a shoulder workout and got ready for work.

---

Driving to Kung Fu camp (Summer, 2023)

Boy: I call DJ!

Me: Who's DJ and why are you calling them?

Boy: Different kind of "call" Dad.

Listening to Come Together by the beatles

Boy: He says "Shoot me" in the beginning

Me: Really?

Boy: It's so different when you can read the lyrics on the phone

Boy: Miley Cyrus didn't give Amazon her lyrics though, because one is wrong in Flowers. Let me play it for you.

Skips forward a few songs, then Sweet Child of Mine comes on.

Boy: Nevermind. Can't skip past this one - it's too good.

---

Late July

Today driving to Kung Fu camp, L is the DJ and it's now Brittany Spears' Womanizer, followed by Sweet Child of Mine, and finally Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.

On Brittany

Boy: I love this song

Me: Brittany Spears has kind of a deep voice. I mean, it's deeper than yours. (Why did I say this? No idea.)

Boy: That's because I haven't hit puberty yet, Dad.