Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

Leave a comment Posted on car reviews, Storytelling, Uncategorized

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

During Thanksgiving weekend, I shot this video (below) for my dad; featuring his 1963 Ford Falcon Futura.

This car was originally bought by his grandfather, then passed on to his dad; and then to my dad, in 1990. He has only made a few changes from the original 170 CI 2 speed automatic car he received.

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

The color is Red Fire with white interior and the engine is a  250 CI Inline 6 with stainless steel headers, dual exhaust, electronic ignition, 264/274 -110 Clay Smith cam.

The head is milled .060” ported and polished.

He cut off the log intake and build a custom 4 barrel intake with a 390 CFM Holley carburetor and larger stainless valves. It has a custom handmade polished aluminum cold air induction; as well as an electric fan & fuel pump.

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

The transmission is an automatic overdrive. It has 8” rear end with 17” wheels.

There is no doubt, this is not only a sharp looking car, but it has the power as well.

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

Though I’m sure it was a glorious car back in 1963 when it was made, I think it probably turns more heads now; since you don’t regularly see cars like this one on the road anymore; especially not this well-kept.

My dad is the ultimate handyman and car enthusiast. I wish I had half of his skills and abilities when it comes to things like that.

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

But what I can do is produce videos and put them on YouTube. So between the two of us, we are able to present to the world not only this  official video for my dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura; but this blog post as well, featuring these picture collages.

By the way, I love how at the end of the video, the Falcon leaves smoke tracks like the Delorean in Back to the Future.

In case you missed that video, here it is again…

My Dad’s 1963 Ford Falcon Futura (Video and Picture Collages)

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

My New Kids’ Show- Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Forest (Webisodes 1-3)

Uncle Nick Official Title Card

After filming 22 webisodes of Jack-Man from May through October this year, I decided to take a break from that and create a new web series; one that is specifically designed as a kids’ show, as opposed to the sci-fi super hero sitcom format of Jack-Man.

My idea was to create a show in which my niece could watch and be entertained by on YouTube. So I began combining elements of entertainment I thought would be appreciated by a 4 year-old.

Think of my new show, Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Forest, sort of as an updated version of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, but that is more outdoors based.

The show always begins with me introducing the audience to an old trinket that I just found. In the first webisode, it’s a harmonica.

I taught myself a few riffs the day before I filmed, and decided to record the theme song based off of my experimentation.

Another ritual is that I remind the viewers how to do my “enchanted animal call” before I put on my puffy vest.

Once we arrive outside in the Enchanted Forest, I lead the viewers in officially doing the enchanted animal call, which then invites an enchanted animal to the scene.

These first couple of webisodes feature the theme of bullying.

My plan for now is to continue featuring my son’s stuffed animal collection as the characters in the forest.

I intend to film at least 3 more webisodes during Christmas weekend; with the goal of ultimately reaching 22 like I did with Jack-Man.

By the time I reach the 22nd webisode, the series will naturally evolve to where it needs to be. As I learned from making Jack-Man, making the first dozen webisodes teaches me how to actually direct and produce the show. That way, by the 2nd dozen or so webisodes, the show is more crafted.

In the words, the quality will increase as the show progresses.

As for now, these are the first 3 original webisodes of Uncle Nick’s Enchanted Playground. My dream is to one day host my own kids’ show on a television network.

This is me building my dream.

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, People, Pregnancy, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: 3 Funny Things You Said While Waiting to Find out You’re Having a Sister

5 years.

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Dear Jack,

We made a family affair out of finding out whether we are having a boy or a girl.

The suspense was getting the best of both you and me as we waited a good 25 minutes’ worth of the nurse showing us all the signs of your sibling being a healthy baby before the mltechnician finally revealed to us that you are having a… sister!

Mommy appeared perfectly calm during the wait… it was you and me that had way too much nervous energy.

During those never-ending 20 minutes of suspense leading up to the big reveal, you said 3 things that were just so hilarious to me…

When the technician asked whether you thought you were going to have a brother or sister, you responded:

“Broster.”

Shortly afterwards, the technician showed us the baby’s spine. You looked up at the monitor screen on the wall and excitingly proclaimed,“Oh, that’s the baby’s teeth!”

From then, until we finally got confirmation that it’s definitely a girl inside Mommy’s tummy, you kept asking, “When can I see the baby’s butt?”

I can tell you’re not really able to process yet that you will be able to see baby Holly in April. It’s too big of a concept for you to process right now.

But you celebrated at Whole Foods, to some degree, where we bought you a new stuffed animal for your collection. First you chose a hedgehog, but then after I had always Instagrammed the event…

Jack got to pick out a new animal to celebrate finding out whether he will have a brother or sister... we announce to the world tomorrow!

Jack got to pick out a new animal to celebrate finding out whether he will have a brother or sister… we announce to the world tomorrow!

You changed your mind and got a pink pig instead…

He changed his mind...

He changed his mind…

By the way, Mommy is perhaps the happiest I’ve ever seen her as long as I’ve known her. In her quiet way, I was able to witness just how much it means to her that Holly is on her way.

As for you, I feel a feeling you’ll come around once your sister after gets here.

Love,

Daddy

8 Comments Posted on parenting, People, Pregnancy, Uncategorized

Dear Holly: You are Definitely a Girl!

19 weeks.

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Dear Holly,

We just learned the news… There is no doubt, you are our daughter. We are having a girl!

Your name is Holly Joy Shell. And you have actually been 7 and a half years in the making…

Back when Mommy and I were planning our wedding in 2008, we were showing my parents (your grandparents) the venue for our reception; the Vanderbilt Legends Club.

The facility was serving brunch while we were there getting the tour of the place. I remember superstar Michael W. Smith and I happened to lock eyes from across the room; as he was sitting down eating. I definitely knew who he was and he apparently thought he was supposed to know me- and I could tell he was in deep thought trying to figure out where he knew me from.

That moment was interrupted when shortly afterwards, your Mommy made a comment about how one day we would have a little girl and name her Holly.

You are that little girl. You are the epic, legendary Holly.

Everyone has been guessing this week whether you were a boy or a girl. The guesses came in at about 50% “Team Holly” and 50% “Team Logan…

However, now that we are telling everyone you are a girl, people seem genuinely amazed that I could have actually been right this whole time. It didn’t help that Mommy thought you were a boy.

Again, my basis of you being a girl is the fact that Mommy has been having different symptoms with you than she did your brother Jack.

But from the very beginning, my heart was always told me that you were a girl; even before Mommy’s symptoms of nausea that she didn’t have with the last pregnancy.

I take it as my fate that God has much more to teach me about life… lessons that I can only learn from raising a little girl named Holly Joy.

Love,

Daddy

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11 Comments Posted on marriage, parenting, Pregnancy, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Cast Your Final Official Vote for Whether It’s a Girl or a Boy! Team Holly or Team Logan?

Cast Your Final Official Vote for Whether It’s a Girl or a Boy! Team Holly or Team Logan?

On Wednesday morning at 8:00 AM, our family will be finding out whether we’re having a boy or a girl. I will reveal the results on Thursday; which is Thanksgiving.

By leaving your prediction in the form of a comment, your guess can be forever preserved. If you’re right, everyone will know it!

Before you make your prediction official, I’ll give you some things to consider…

I have said from the beginning that I think it’s a girl. I base this on the fact that my wife is carrying this baby much differently than our first.

This baby is positioned differently; plus my wife has symptoms she didn’t have last time; like nausea in the first trimester.

So I think it’s a girl. And most other people I’ve talked to believe that as well.

To that degree, that would make Logan the underdog, as so many people, like me, have been long assuming it’s a girl.

But… my wife thinks it’s a boy.

And now, I admit, that has got me second-guessing this.

As it stands, I am the final Shell man in my family to pass on the name; other than my son, Jack.  My dad has 3 sisters and just one brother, who himself had 3 girls.

So it would make sense that we would have another boy. It would help strengthen the chances of the Shell name living on beyond just my son; in case that matters.

Plus, people say if the mother is carrying the baby low, then it’s a boy; but if it’s high, it’s a girl. But I’m confused on what a “low” or “high” baby looks like…

Here’s your chance. Vote for either Team Holly or Team Logan, then came back to Family Friendly Daddy Blog on Thursday morning (Thanksgiving) to find out if your prediction was correct.

Who’s right? Me- the dad, who thinks it’s a girl?

Or my wife, the mommy, who thinks it’s a boy?

Team Holly and Team Logan. This is the final countdown!