A Flash into the Past and a Podcast for New Dads

I guess one of the reasons I became a children's book author is part of me doesn't want to grow up. (Well my family insists I still haven't grown up and hence they're constantly telling me to do so). I'm into comic book superheroes, Star Wars, action figures and the unexplained etc, etc.  So this post I'll be talking about the podcasts that I've found on itunes that I enjoy tremendously  and allow me to remain in part of my childhood.

As I said my family thinks I haven't grown up (My theme song is 'I'm a Toys 'R' Us Kid'). So it shouldn't be a surprise that I really enjoy Flash Past on itunes. Now, if you're looking to relieve your childhood or youth, then check out Flash Past with my friends Dan @DanFugate and Steve @Wavesoftech on itunes. Each week the guys discuss something from the past: fast food restaurants, motorcycles,  rollercoasters, TV shows, you  name it. Needless to say the show's an absolute blast. You can even join them live while they're podcasting. There's also a trivia quiz, but you might not want to answer as you may be showing your age. Dan and Steve have great podistry: pod chemistry. Also check out the other podcasts on Waves of Tech. It'll be great to share these shows with your dad.

Speaking of dads, being a dad is a lot of hard work, just ask my dad or big brother.  Ok, before I go any further let me just say that I'm not a dad or a dad-to-be. For that I would have to find a willing accomplice to inflict that kind of cruel and unusual punishment on this poor unsuspecting world. But what I have recently come to realize is that there is not a lot of information for dads-to-be and new dads. While there are  numerous books for expectant mommies, there are hardly any guide books for expectant or new daddies. They're plunged into the deep end of poopy diapers and  hit face first with errant streams of golden newborn pee. If you're about to traverse the joys and travails of fatherhood, where do you turn? Fret not,  there's hope for new dads in the form of  the Daddy on Board podcast, hosted by Clayton Morris and Mike Quackenbush. Childhood chums Mike and Clayton  have come up with exactly what new dads need -- a weekly podcast addressing everything from big DO dos to big Do nots. If you like their hit podcast The Grizzly Bear Egg Cafe, which covers everything hip &  happening in the world of music, gadgets, comics, entertainment and everything else,  then you're going to dig Daddy on Board.  It's hilarious, it's a riot and more importantly it's informative. So if you're a long time dad, a new dad, an expectant dad or even if you're not, follow them on twitter @TheDaddyonBoard and subscribe to their podcast on itunes.  Also you might like to check out Mike's other podcast Chikara  Video Podcast A Go Go, and Clayton's other podcasts Today in Social Media and The Paranormal Report which he co hosts with Jim Harold  on itunes.

 And if you're kind enough, please give the podcasts a five star rating. They all deserve it.

Poopsies

When I was just a baby my big brother lent me his one and only  teddy bear. In a show of gratitude, or maybe I was just being territorial, I promptly pooped all over it. That incident scarred my brother as it did his beloved teddy. And he has never let me forget about it!

Which brings me to today's topic -  poopsies. How many parents out there are having a hard time training their kids to go poopsies by themselves. I'm asking because my cousin Gaby  is in the midst of training her youngest to go potty by himself.  Is it harder to train a girl or a boy to go potty by themselves?

Are boys more possessive of their poopsies? I know that my nephews, one in particular, enjoyed giving me  blow-by-blow accounts of their poopsie movements. Maybe it's harder to train boys because they enjoy sharing the experience. I don't know. What do you think?

So please let me know what are your preferred methods of  potty training. What works, what doesn't? Is there a need for books about potty training? Talk to you soon. D

'I WANT A PET!'

When you were a kid, did you ever ask your parents for a pet? Did they grant your wish or did they shoot you down continuously? My parents did the latter. Well, I guess I sort of had a pet - kind of. We had a daschund, but she was a year older than me. And technically she wasn't MY pet, she was my sister's.

It was when I was about  18 months old that my parents discovered that I wasn't very good with animals. Apparently I was in the midst of shoving a cookie into my face when most of it fell on the floor. My philosophy has always been never let a good cookie go to waste, so I scrambled out of my high chair to pick it up, only to see Waggley, our  daschund, gobble it up.

You know what they say about taking candy, or in this case a cookie, from babies? Well, THIS baby was having none of it. Before Mom could stop me, I yanked Waggley's mouth open and attempted to retrive MY cookie. When that didn't work, I decided to get even. I grabbed Waggley's tail and clamped down on it with my teeth! Apparently I was spitting reddish-brown dog fur out of my mouth for the next couple of minutes. So you can see why my parents kept on refusing my pet requests. I was a potential Michael Vick in the making.

My upcoming book 'TSOMF" is based on my childhood quest for a pet.  And here's a sneak peak of  my main character Jeremy Alexander. I think my illustrator YT Chieu is a phenomenal artist and has captured the essence of the story incredibly well. I'm totally psyched about this story and I hope you will like it too.