Brant's Blog of Awesomeness

Looking for a Bald Penguin with a Wetsuit? Search No Longer

Here you go.  Per your request.

"But Brant, where do I find still more pictures of this wet-suited penguin?  Where?" you ask, before adding, "Man, what a great morning show.  I'm going to increase my giving to WAY-FM, effective immediately."

And then I say, "Cool.  Here's more penguin pics right here."

And then they're all like, "Awesome.  See ya."

And then I'm all like, "Okay.  Well...goodbye then, new friend-person!"

And then they're like, "I didn't really say we're friends."  And then it's kind of awkward.

Awesome "Awareness Test"

So We Were Talking About Producer Nikki this Morning...

I'm going to try to put this up on the sidebar-thing on this here blog.  Meantime, relevant to our conversation this morning, here's a picture of Producer Nikki.

And there's more here at our Facebook page.

I'm volunteering to screen guys for Nikki.  I say I'd be great at it, and could pick the one with the most potential for her.  I'm not being cocky;  I just think a lot of women aren't able to see through some fronts guys put up.  And I think it's totally cool when dads or older brothers do this kind of thing, too. 

We'll try to figure out a way to do it.  I think it would be *fascinating* to interview guys on the air, maybe four or five.  Nikki doesn't think guys will be willing to do that.  I'm not sure.  But I think guys love a challenge, right?  I think it's cool, like the olden days, when you had to joust somebody or something. 

The end result:  We'd have some laughs, and probably double or triple date or something.  Maybe something romantic, like awesome go-kart racing.  Good news:  You get to make a new friend, Nikki.  Bad news:  You have to let me win at go-karts.

I just have to figure out how all this can go down, this screening-thing.  I think it will beat the dating scene.  If you want to nominate yourself for potential consideration, it's brant@wayfm.com. 

American Idol: Shout to the Lord

Cool! Nintendo Wii Has a New White Thing to Stand On!

Fun Stuff Dads Can Do with 2 Year-Olds

We talked about it this morning -- an advice question at slate.com.  The dad was asking what to do, since he didn't like being with his two year-old daughter, now that she wouldn't let him just watch TV.  He just doesn't enjoy her, would rather do his own thing, etc.

So, among other ideas for him, we decided to come up with some ideas for stuff dads actually can ENJOY doing with two year-old kids.  Remember, from experience:  If you find something you both like, you can do it 100,000 times in a row, and the kid will just ask you to do it again.  So, really, you only need one idea to work:

1)  Build ramps -- Drive matchbox cars off ramps and crash them into a pyramid of building blocks.  For me, this can kill four hours.

2)  Play with electric (or slotted) trains

3)  Build ramps for electric trains!  Stage huge accidents with stuff, then set it back up and laugh when you destroy it again.

4)  Build giant towers of building blocks or Duplos, let your kid knock it down.  See how high you can build the tower.

5)  Hide-n-Seek -- This is not difficult with a two year-old.  You can stay in the living room.

6)  Jungle Gym City -- You just get down on all fours and let them climb all over you. 

7)  Tickle Mania

8)  Make awesome forts out of couch cushions and sheets and stuff.  (Sean emailed and said he puts an oscillating fan underneath the sheet to make an air tent.  Pretty cool.)

9)  Read books -- I used to change accents from page to page to keep myself awake  (Now I'm southern, now I'm Russian, now I'm Sean Connery, now I'm Monty Python, etc.)

10)  Sidewalk chalk -- I'd draw a "map" of city streets and stuff, they run cars over them.

11)  Set up a nerf hoop -- You lie on the couch, they rebound and bring you back the ball as fast as they can. 

12)  Crank your favorite music, pick her up, and dance with her

13)  Go swimming or outside for sprinkler fun

14)  Go to the pet store  (my daughter always loved the baby skunks!)

15)  ...?

Other ideas most welcome in the comments.  Remember:  Best ideas are ones both might enjoy.