Last Child in the Woods

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Recommended for every city-dwelling parent, this book brings a child-psychologist viewpoint on why we must introduce our children to nature.


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Jim Burns

Jim Burns' Arizona Birds: From the Backyard to the Backwoods by Jim Burns

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
After meeting Jim Burns on a guided birdwatching walk at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, I began reading his book. It's not just a guide because it offers a little something memorable about each bird.


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Peach-faced Lovebirds in Phoenix

Aster and I were walking along at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve and were stunned by a family of non-native peach-faced lovebirds. An extraordinary non-North American moment. Aster says it was "like being in the Amazon jungle". Lots of singing. The birds have created a new home here. Aster was beside himself. We might have to take a trip south for more. 

This was years ago, but I just had to blog it

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David

The little ones need help

David

Expanding family

Jolina and Cocker (as in Spaniel)

Why I need to live in South America

Yesterday was an unofficial holiday in Argentina (after Arg-Brazil 3-0) while Marcos and I celebrated by going out to lunch. We thought of going to a Brazilian churrasco and chanting Argentina on the way in, but those Brazilian restaurants rob you -- $28 for the lunch buffet?!! Instead we went to a Thai place. Kind of a downer. 

David

Nature Walks

We went on a lizard nature walk with a biologist who was super-impressed with Aster's ability to point out different lizards and birds. The next day we followed up with a bird walk. We've planned some more all through November. By the time it's December we'll be experts of the desert. Attached are some pictures of some of the adventure. I spotted that whipsnake in a tree I was walking past! We saw some great birds and lizards, but my camera sucks. 

I'm out of Haagen Dazs sorbet

I'll blog this and call it my lunch break from working at home. If you ever get your tonsils out, be sure to stock up on Haagen Dazs sorbet. I like raspberry best. It's really good. But when you run out, life sucks.

What's worse is that I'm home alone without any Haagen Dazs sorbet. That means I can't tell anybody to go get any at the store for me. I have to get up, take a shower, and go get some myself.

No, I can't eat regular ice cream. The milk of it gets all mucousy (not a word) in my throat.

What do I do when I sit at home all day eating Haagen Dazs?

I go to the Haagen Dazs Web site, of course, and learn all about the company's mission to save the honey bees.

Now that I've gone to the Web site, I really appreciate honey bees and I feel good about eating as much sorbet as I can. I wonder just how much money Haagen Dazs spent on honey bee research and how much they spent on the honey bee Web game.

check out this yak

I want to upgrade my boat to an Agent 6.0. It's small. Great for tricks. I can let Aster use it. It's about a $1,000. Should I go for it? 

David

Tonsils out; surgery went well

I actually don't really remember what happened. I don't feel nearly as bad as I thought I would. But maybe that's just cuz my painkillers haven't wore off. 

I feel like a small part of me has been pulverized to ashes. 

David

Send me your awesome athletic pics

I need the motivation...

The other day a lady I was talking to on the phone said to me, "I've seen pictures of your family. Are you as athletic as they are?"

"No. I just look at their pictures, watch their movies and feel incredibly jealous," I said. It's a conversation I've had over and over again. All the pics of crazy stunts of my family has made them famous. I explained to the lady, "Whenever I try to do anything athletic (like run a mile or even go swimming) I end up with a sore throat for a week." 

"You should get your tonsils out," the lady told me.

"I know. I'm trying."

Tomorrow's the day. My tonsils will be no more. I know this is like déjà vu, but I think I will actually be able to get them out this time. And my doctor says he is not able to describe the agony I will be in for the next two weeks. 

I'll be suffering so all I ask is that you send me your best rock climbing, capoeira, kayaking, and snowboarding pics. I'm going to hang them on my wall. Some day soon I'll have crazy stunt pics too (within reason; a couple of you are clearly insane.). 

 
David

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David

Politics

In the last year my political self has been pretty rocked and I've been having a lot of trouble determining exactly what I should describe myself as now. So I took a quiz, which I believe I did pretty well at, and now think everyone should take it.

You are a Social Liberal (66% permissive) and an... Economic Moderate (41% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

When the Lemonade Stand Goes Sour

After borrowing four dollars, formulating a delicious product, and putting together a killer marketing campaign (complete with singing), Aster and Torie were only able to make 50 cents from their lemonade stand .

That's after two hours of sweating in the Arizona heat. The only two customers who bought were Grandma and Nona (the kids's great-grandma).

I told the kids they needed a new sign that said, "Water sucks! Drink lemonade and lose weight!"
 

Are you a conservative or liberal patriot?

Either way you should read Time magazine's just-released "The Real Meaning of Patriotism" for a refreshing view of how we might all better understand each other

Happy Independence Day!

I met Robert Kiyosaki

I went to a party and Robert Kiyosaki was there. Wow! I thought. I'll go meet him. So I said, "Hi, I'm David!" Robert just looked at me blankly. I started to introduce myself. He just looked at me blankly. "Anyway, I hoped maybe I could get a picture with you." Robert straightened up and smiled. (He knew what he was doing.) I said, "Thanks." He looked at me blankly. I walked away.

Girls meet Amanda Borden

The girls met 1996 Gold Medalist Amanda Borden at their gymnastics meet. They each got their own mini-gold medals that day too.
 
David

A photo of me

David

My supermodel and her Webkinz

Supermodel Torie won't pose without bringing her "family" along. So all the Webkinz went surfing.   
 
David

Aster steals the maté again

He's getting into the habit of coming over and robbing the maté. And his hair's getting long too. My son is too much like me. I can't believe how much he reads. He's read the entire Harry Potter series straight, all of the Jean Craighead George's My Side of the Mountain series and now Gary Paulsen's Hatchet series. 

David