EVEN THOUGH I HAVE read and highlighted The Gen Z Frequency, I know there is nothing better than tuning in directly to the conversations of young teens. I had an opportunity to do that when I accompanied Mia (12) and her friends on a shopping trip to Waterford.
Continue reading "Learning from Tweens h/t @thinkwithwitt" »
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MY BLOG RANG me a few minutes ago to ask about a special set of screws. Read on if you are intrigued about the steps (in photo) and squeaks.
I wrote about a series of DIY projects challenging me five years ago. One project involved fixing squeaky stairs. I needed a way of stopping the squeaks so I wrote about a possible solution involving a set of screws I meant to buy when Stateside. [1]
But I never got the screws and the stairs kept squeaking. They still squeak for the current home owner. And I have a new squeak in our current rental bungalow but no anti-squeak screws.
However, it is relatively easy to find my blog when Googling for squeaky stairs in Ireland. And since my phone number is on top of my blog, I get the occasional request for No-squeak Screws. When that call happened today, I had to tell the confused caller that I was ill-equipped to help. But I am resolved to get the screws [2] before our trip Stateside next year.
So in the Christmas season, if you hear a squeak underfoot, feel free to ring my blog. The number is on top of nearly every page.
1. Bernie Goldbach -- "How to fix squeaky stairs" on Insideview.ie, September 3, 2006.
2. O'Berry Enterprises -- "Sqeeeeeek No More"
[Sent mail2blog using Typepad posting services while underway in Ireland.]
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I PUT THE world's best GPS watch onto my Father's Day Wishlist and then started letting the Suunto Google Plus Community push its updates to my phone because I know the combination of those two tactics will help me divert my fast food spending into the Suunto Savings Account. I figure I will have enough money for the Suunto after avoiding 117 takeaway meals.
So that means sometime around Christmas 2015 I'll have the funds for the $500 purchase and I think my well-telegraphed intentions will help nudge this health and fitness tracker into my Christmas stocking. It will be worth the wait.
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AS I NOTED in my weekly review of the Sunday papers, we have validated our need for scented oil and citronella because the midges are back with warmer weather. We want help from the Sodshow too.
In the meantime, a nice porcelain oil lamp from the Scandinavian shop might help. It reminds me of outdoor items my grandfather would use when setting up special garden parties for clients.
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OUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING season this year is very truncated because we have 1200 euro less each month, compared to 2010.
So when we find things like the free ball pit in the photo (snapped at the Monkey Maze in Glanmire), I feel like we've done well.
The Monkey Maze Ball Pit offers safe harbor for two of our kids and releases Mom the Shopper to walk Cork's shopping district, located a 20 minute drive away. We've also discovered Cork Traffic Wardens let us get away without paying for on-street parking.
Looking back at my Foursquare check-ins, I discovered I buy most of my trousers in Cork but most of my suits in Limerick. I've bookmarked one clothing store in Cork whose tailor makes clever nomad gear pockets. I need two nomad jackets that also look like business attire.
If things go to plan, young Dylan will be in the ball pit in January when I buy a nomad jacket in Cork.
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Bernie Goldbach in LIT-Clonmel | Sugababes on the Cover
MUSIC IS A DAYPARTER. You can tell it's near lunchtime in Europe by the requests for tracks my blog gets.
I put some Sugarbabes (sic) below this post because the Sugababes are the dayparters in the two-hour period associated with noon siesta in Europe today. Here are other things people wanted to find on my blog while they munched away on their sangwitches:
-- ireland single mum state child support
-- pron
-- when ulysses copyright expires
-- mahon tribunal final report 2012 pdf
-- tax rebate for weee charges
You can tell a lot more about an online presence by looking and listening to the dayparting results. I used to think I was more a tech blog than anything else, but the high-ranking terms of reference cited in this post suggests I'm closer to Liveline's audience, not Adrian Weckler's readers. For those loyal listeners, you're welcome to try out some Sugababes music below, perhaps on your Nokia Lumia or Android phone. I don't think the girls will play through the below link on an iPhone.
Bonus Link: Sugababes on Last.fm
Bernie Goldbach curates links about music.
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Bernie Goldbach in Cashel | Image from Puddleducks
OUT ADVENTUROUS FOUR-YEAR-OLD wants to be kitted out for Summer 2012 so she can use the jungle gym outside regardless of monsoon conditions. She wants the Puddleducks “Rain or Shine” Offer.
So we're giving her one more cooling-off day before buying an Eco Dungaree and Jacket Set for €24.99. We get that price break when ordering at the same time as a Kid's Wetsuit. That saves us enough to go to the Monkey Maze three times.
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I HAVE SPECIAL SPACE in my DVD collection for Star Wars, Star Trek and BSG. So it's only natural to have a special hook in the hallway for a Star Wars M65 Field Jacket.
I'm posting my thoughts here, along with a direct link to the Adidas selection, to prod family viewers towards a lovely Christmas idea. I've already asked my wife if she would like a matching jacket and she has declined. So I'm trying to determine if our four-year-old could fill out the smallest size and be the envy of her play school as she strides in with her Camo Jacket, complete with a four-star field commander cluster to keep her inner nerd warm toasty warm..
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JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT the water was safe, Air Swimmers floats a shark next to your face.
These RC fish would delight our three year old but I don't think we'll be able to get one of these $40 fish from M and M Toys before the end of September since they don't ship to Ireland. This may mean getting a few fairies to flit and fly around the birthday girl with their enchanted flapping wings. You can guide your fairy with a magic wand. As all good storytellers know, the deepest wish of any fairy is to inspire humans to take better care of the natural world. And each Flitter Fairy tries to bond with a human friend who shares her most important trait such as compassion, protection or inspiration. So before the end of September, we need to invite Eva, Daria and Alexa into our home to play the Snow Fairy Keeper contest, explore Faewick Forest and Kendlenook Village, and read the fairy book “Slightly Above Time” during the upcoming birthday party.
Direct link to the Flitter Fairies and to the Air Swimmers video.
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IF SHE COULD BLOG at two-and-a-half, Mia would be telling the world that she wants a pink bike. If she could read, Mia would see I've written about the joys of having a new bike. I'm shoveling a sample video clip onto my blog in the hopes that we can find a way to get her a 14" pink bike. We've bought her bicycle helmet already and have visited Worldwide Cycles to find a perfect match to her frame.
Direct link to 22-second audio: http://www.insideview.ie/files/wants_pink_bike.mp3
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