Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

Leave a comment Posted on funny, Storytelling, Uncategorized

What If Political Bumper Stickers Were Actually Effective in Instantly Converting Those Who See Them?

What If Political Bumper Stickers were Actually Effective in Converting Those Who See Them?

I think the concept of opinionated bumper stickers is hilarious.

Granted, I’m not talking about the ones that are supposed to be hilarious like, “I may be driving slow, but at least I’m in front of you.” That’s intended to be funny, and it is.

Instead, I’m referring to the ones that are meant to apparently convert people’s beliefs and ideology.

The best example of this ridiculous notion is when I see political bumper stickers; which as a commuter in Nashville, is a constant occurrence.

Just imagine: A politically neutral person is at the red light, behind an old Ford pick-up truck with a “Trump for President 2016: Make America Great Again” bumper sticker.

In that moment, a revelation comes over him, as he says to himself, “Yeah, that’s what we need… I can’t believe I never thought about it before. We need Trump to run this country!”

Five minutes later, after having converted from “politically neutral” to “Trump supporter”, this same man is now behind a Nissan Versa. He sees the bumper sticker: Hillary Clinton 2016: I’m With Her.

It’s now as if the man’s whole world has just been rocked. How could he have ever thought Trump was a good idea? Clearly, Hillary Clinton is the way to go.

What a sigh of relief. And yet what an embarrassment that he was ever swayed by that Trump bumper sticker. Fortunately, the Hillary Clinton bumper sticker has now overridden the influence of the one before it.

You can imagine how this story goes on. At each new red light on the commuter’s drive home, he is exposed to a different car with a different political bumper sticker; alternating between Trump and Clinton.

By the time the man finally arrives home, he ultimately choses the candidate he most recently saw the bumper sticker for; whoever that happened to randomly be.

All is well now. He’s made up his mind…

Until the commute back to work in the morning.

Leave a comment Posted on food reviews, Health, Storytelling, Uncategorized, vegan

Vegan Confession: I am Addicted to Overeating

This is my secret…

Being a vegan keeps my addiction of overeating in check. I can’t trust myself with eating animal products. And I shouldn’t.

I’ve overeaten my entire life. Before and since becoming a vegan.

Vegan Confession: I am Addicted to Overeating

As a kid, I got away with it because I had a high metabolism. As a 4th grader, I remember how I would get the Double Whopper combo meal and finish it all.  I would eat at buffets, consuming more food that most adults; and I know this because adults would tell me.

In my mind, if I wasn’t overeating, I wasn’t really eating.

As a teen and young adult, I would be the guy who would eat the most pizza or the most fried chicken at gatherings.

My metabolism finally caught up with me full swing by the time I got married, at age 27. That’s when my health problems came in full swing, as well. Even though my metabolism slowed down, my desire to overeat never did.

Vegan Confession: I am Addicted to Overeating

As you know by now, committing to the vegan lifestyle over 3 years ago has eliminated and kept my former health issues in remission; including eczema (dyshidrosis), constant sinusitis, pet allergies, and sinus pressure.

I’ve realized that one of the many benefits of being a vegan is that, for the most part, I can pretty much each as much as I want of the food I am able to eat.

Now granted, eating oily tater tots and sugary vegan chocolate bars did cause me to gain 7 pounds in the past year while I was “sympathy eating” with my pregnant wife.

But when I stick with my normal regimen of veggies, fruit, grains, beans, nuts, and seeds, I’ve learned that I can get away with “overeating”. Ultimately, I just don’t have to worry about counting calories or portion control.

Vegan Confession: I am Addicted to Overeating

The reason for this is because by sticking with those 6 food groups, I am eating food solely for nutrition, including my daily allowance of protein and good fats; yet with 0% of my daily allowance of cholesterol.

I overeat simply because it’s fun. I openly admit this.

I’m not overeating because of some traumatic event in my life, nor because I feel incomplete in some way. I just simply like eating more food that I need to.

It’s fun.

Vegan Confession: I am Addicted to Overeating

If I ever went back to eating meat, eggs, and dairy, I would go so far the other way with it. I know it. I would be visiting the Wendy’s drive-thru on a daily basis.

Eating food is something I can’t be trusted with. I have no control when it comes to food.

Therefore, I keep myself safe behind the electric fence of veganism.

I am not addicted to alcohol. I have never used drugs.

But when it comes to food, I rely on the strict limitations of veganism in order to keep myself from getting out of control… because I am an addict of overeating.

Vegan Confession: I am Addicted to Overeating

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Parental Guide Summary of Suicide Squad (Rated PG-13)

No, I didn’t take my 5 year-old son to see this one…

Parental Guide Summary of Suicide Squad (Rated PG-13)

But I was indeed one of the first people to have seen Suicide Squad, because for some reason here in Tennessee, it opened at 9:00 PM the night before the movie was supposed to premiere.

What’s funny is that throughout the entire movie, I thought the movie was rated R. I thought that’s what I saw on the movie poster.

So when I got home, I told my wife, “That was the tamest R-rated movie I’ve seen. There was hardly any profanity, no sex or nudity, no blood or graphic violence… just a lot of guns!”

And really, that should serve as my parental guide summary of this PG-13 rated movie, for any parents out there of teens, who are trying to figure out if this movie is too much for their kid to see.

Well, I can’t answer that for you. But what I can do is briefly break down this movie into segments and let you decide. So here it goes…

Profanity:

I heard one use of the word g** d*** and 2 non-sexual uses of p*ssy, but no f-words. Other than that, I’m sure they were some uses of more minor words. But I was really surprised at how little curse words there were for such a dark-themed movie.

Sex/Nudity:

All that comes to mind is how a couple of the female characters are provocatively dressed, as his common in super hero movies, like Wonder Woman in Batman V. Superman. There were no implied sex scenes or nudity in Suicide Squad.

Violence:

There are so many guns in this movie you might think it was sponsored by the NRA. With that being said, there is virtually no blood or gore in this movie… just a whole lot of shooting guns!

Drugs/Alcohol:

The members have the Suicide Squad (as well as the “good guys”) are shown drinking alcohol throughout the movie, but never is drunkenness implied. I recall no use of drugs.

Dark Themes:

While obviously this cast of felons have violent backgrounds including murder, the darkest theme in Suicide Squad is the plot device of demon possession. It sort of reminded me of the original 1984 Ghostbusters in that regard.

Parental Guide Summary of Suicide Squad (Rated PG-13)

So there are the bullet points. I feel this movie is on the same level as Batman V. Superman, in regards to “family friendliness”.

Over all, despite the dark theme, there is little profanity, no sex or outright nudity, and no graphic violence. But you have a problem with guns, then I think this might be the most offensive thing about Suicide Squad, for you.

Thanks for reading my review!

And here’s my video version below:

 

 

 

 

 

1 Comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Your 1st Week of Nonna and Papa’s Summer Camp

5 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week was a historic event for you, as you spent the entire time at Nonna and Papa’s house, two and half hours away in Alabama.

I say that’s a big deal for a boy who’s about to start Kindergarten. I don’t remember spending the night with a grandparent until I was in 2nd grade, and that was just 5 miles down the road.

But after our 1st ever father and son road trip (in the 2016 Lexus ES), I dropped you off with Nana and Papa.

Fortunately, Nana did a wonderful job of documenting the entire week thanks to Facebook Messenger.

Here’s what you did all week…

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

 

How cool is that? I am so proud of you for being brave enough to spend the week with your grandparents.

Congratulations on your 1st week of summer camp!

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: Riding on Your Brother Batman’s Shoulders

14 weeks.

Dear Holly: Riding on Your Brother Batman’s Shoulders

Dear Holly,

You now depend on Jack to entertain you each evening while Mommy and I finish preparing dinner. These days, we are able to lay you down on a blanket while Jack finds new ways to amuse you.

Earlier this week, Jack discovered his Batman mask from his Halloween costume two years ago in his closet. He also grabbed his favorite blanket and decided to “fly” around you, flapping his “cape” and regularly stopping abruptly in front you to proclaim, “Beware!”

From there, he would present you with a dramatic pause, as if to solicit a response of possible intimidation.

Each time, you instead presented him with a look that implied, “Okay, go on… What else ya got?”

Anytime he would stop pretending to be Batman for any reason, like getting himself some water or a snack real quick, you would make it known that he needed to return to his job post.

Dear Holly: Riding on Your Brother Batman’s Shoulders

You would turn your head from side to side, looking for him, then letting out a squeal to communicate to him, “Hey, come back… You have work to do!”

I think your brother is surprised that even though he is just randomly joking around, he is actually playing an important role in the family: His ability to entertain you is an asset; more so than he might realize.

And last weekend when Nonna and Papa were here, Jack recruited me to help him carry you on his shoulders. With my assistance, he carried you the distance from the living room to the dining room, and back, several times.

This shouldn’t have been something you liked. It didn’t make much sense that you went along with it and liked it. I can clearly see how your sibling relationship is developing with Jack.

His obscure ideas again prove that even when Jack doesn’t take himself seriously, you often do.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Riding on Your Brother Batman’s Shoulders