A Father's Diaper Bag

So you are going to be taking your kid out in public with or without your wife who at this point has taken care of everything to do with the diaper bag and basically everything else.  She just hands it to you to load it into the car.  Now she has given you permission or because she has to go back to work you have to take over going to the grocery store with the kid(s).  Here is your basic diaper bag for those of you like me who refuse to carry around the bright pink or blue bag identifying you as a brand new dad.  Remember Swag is something you have or fake so no one knows how truly terrified you are of having to take your kid out in public.

A Man's Diaper Bag

First and foremost you need a good looking pack.  No man should have to walk around with something found in Baby's R Us.  If she gets to spend $50-$100 on a bag you should too.  I recommend a backpack as you will need your hands free.  I recommend a good day back within the 30-40 Liter range  Here are some examples:
 


 What Goes in your Awesome Diaper Bag:

Diapers, Wipes, Butt Cream and Dog Crap Bags
This will always be in the bag until the kids are completely potty trained (3-4 for boys/2-3 for girls).  You only need 10-12 diapers (under 2 years of age); 5-6 diapers (2 and up).  Find a gallon size freezer zip lock bag and put a good 2 inches of wipes into the bag.  Don't buy the travel pack those things will be out before you know it and the travel hard cases just don't hold enough.  Red irritated ass needs to be taken care of.  Girls need a cream, boys need powder.    Last is the Dog Crap Bag, yes that is right, the crap bag.  So you just changed your kid in the back seat of your car in the middle of a parking lot an hour away from home with no trash can near you.  Guess what that diaper will smell up the entire car and leave a lingering smell for days no matter how well you Febreze.  These bags are everywhere, are cheap, has a small easy to use one handed case and do a good job of blocking out that smell.  This is your constant and most used items in the bag. 

Cooler:

As you know if you have frozen breast Milk, Whole Milk, Juice or anything that needs to stay cold  you will need a cooler.  If this is your second or third kid or you have older nephew(s), steal or permanently borrow their last year's Lunch Box Cooler.  No one will miss it.  If not they are cheap as hell and tax free once a year sometime around August. Their simple small and easy to pack with whatever frozen or cold thing you need.  Just pop in a frozen gel pack as a liner and add whatever cold beverage you desire.  I'm a fan of this style as the bottom allows you to pack snacks or formula in the bottom.  The handle makes it easy to find and pull out of your pack.     


Thermos:
For those of you with frozen breast milk you want a Thermos filled with scolding hot water.  This way when you need to defrost that frozen titty milk you don't have to scramble to find hot water.  Just pull it out poor some into the lid and add frozen milk, wait until warm then serve.  If you need warm water for formula you need to make it almost scolding hot before you put it into the thermos.  This way hours later when you go to feed them the water will be the perfect temperature.  (If you will feed them soon put warm water into the Thermos don't burn your kids its a no-no.)
 



Formula Containers:
For the formula you can find containers you can measure out the scoops before you leave the house.  You could also use M&M Minni containers as well for your individual measuring cup.  The only problem is it's a pain in the ass to get it into the container without a funnel along with the rest but if you loose it you won't be in trouble (just make sure to clean them well before use).  I like them because they will stay fresh and you don't have to replace them every time if they aren't used unlike the rest of them because most of those containers are not air tight.   



Water bottle:

Juice/Milk/Pre-made Formula/Water/Chocolate Milk/Daddy's Bourbon and Coke.  The water bottle is by far the most useful element in your arsenal after the age of 1.  You can fill it with whatever you want, cram it in the cooler and you have instant refill.  The key is the water bottle itself.  Make sure it's a tight seal and doesn't have any tubes or strays to cause leakage in case it gets knocked over.  Also when they stop needing all the fluids you can reuse the bottle as a place to store all those lose snacks they love like gold fish, Cheetos, carrots, trail mix, etc, etc.


Toys:
Lets face it the ipad is the greatest father invention ever.  Just give it to them and you only have to stop what your doing to restart the app they accidentally turned off.  Here's the trick for that:  Go to settings, general, accessibility, guided access; turn that on.  Go to the app you want them to stay on hit the home button three times and hit start in the upper right hand corner.  They cannot leave the app unless you enter the code.  Presto.  Make sure you have a heavy duty case like Otter Box or Survival Case because they will drop that toy.  Or if you really are a good dad pack your kids favorite stuff.  If you are really a good dad you will know this and won't need me to tell you.   

Snack(s):

That nifty cooler has a bottom part perfect for all those snacks you need to have to support that growing kid(s) of yours.  Most packs come with an electronics pocket located at the top.  I recommend having some type of bar or bag of their favorite won't go stale food there for emergencies.  Also a zip lock back of gold fish is always fun to hand over to kids in car seats.  Remember what you feed your kid is up to you, know what they can handle and don't allow them to kill themselves by cramming to much food into their mouth.  Be a parent use your brain and make the right decision.  Remember just because it didn't kill them the first time doesn't mean the second, third or twentieth won't.   Personally I make a trail mix with Almonds, Gold Fish and Honey Roasted Peanuts that's pretty damn awesome, I put it into a water bottle similar to the one shown above.




Odds and Ends:

Pacifier(s) if you use these make sure to have 2 back ups hidden in your pack 
Headphones: For when you have had enough and can't stand listening to whatever they have to say.  Pop these in while you smile and nod making all the right sounds letting your kid know you are listening to the no way important thing they are babbling about.  Or they are to young to talk to you and just need eye contact once in a while.
Phone charger: Because you've been listening to music all afternoon.



Don't allow yourself to carry those worthless emasculating diaper bags with all that baby crap in it.  Just because you had a baby doesn't mean you need to be one too.  You are still cool and still struggling with knowing the life you had before kids will never be the same with kids.  Hang in there and remember: Just because... or It's cute or any other god damn thing she says changes the fact you are a man and men don't walk around with diaper bags from baby stores.  We buy back packs and carry baby things in them.   

Father's Swimming Survival Kit

For all of you fathers out there this summer we are at some point going to be taking our kids to the pool, lake, ocean, pond.  For this reason I have put together your survival kit.  Depending on the amount of kids you will vary on the quantity of your haul, This gives you the outline regardless of size.  Just because we are the pack mules doesn't mean we have to suffer.

1) Sports Umbrella:  I'm a huge fan of these umbrellas as they are tough.  They can be laid down or be spiked into the ground.  Plus the bottom is a solid medal spike perfect for an impromptu Zombie killing tool.  Don't bring those giant 12x12 tents unless you are having a multi-family outing.














2)Spray Sun Tan Lotion:  This stuff is easy to apply and doesn't require your kids to be still for long.  Spray it on and rub it in.  I recommend a sport with a SPF of over 30.  This way you don't have to keep applying it so often throughout the day.  Regardless of what you get you should reapply 2-3 hours until they are golden brown.  Bright Pink makes home hell later.  Remember to spray on your hands before applying to their faces.




3)Towels/Blankets:  You need towels because drying without them just doesn't feel right.  I recommend the total number plus one.  If you bring a blanket or a mat you can minus 1 as you should be laying on that rather than the towels.  I recommend the roll compared to the fold for when you ram them in your pack.

4) Toys:  This is difficult if you don't want to lug a bag full.  Personally I say loose the bag of cheap beach toys and go with a decent sand shovel.  Everyone likes to dig at the beach.  With a few of these you and your kids can bury each other or build the most awesome moat to hold back the waves.  All the other toys will be forgotten, plus these sand shovels are light and can be easily carried.  Make sure the spade is made of a heavy plastic and the body of wood.


5)Blow ups and other fun: This is something I try to avoid at the beaches because you have sand to play in and boogie boards are so much more fun.  Plus unless your kids are munchkins they can carry their own.  If you must bring a float for the pool or lake say because your kid is to small to swim than I recommend something that is easily collapsible or requires a noodle to float.  Just remember whatever you bring with you has to be taken back.


6)Life Vest vs. Floaties:  Personally I go with the floaties.  They are small, blow up (meaning they deflate) so they will fit in your bag.  Also they won't cause you to suffer a head rush when you blow them and your floats up.  The life vest are great for a boat but in reality they don't allow kids the freedom to learn to swim as the floaties do.  Vest tend to end up around their ears and do exactly what they are intended for.  Let the kids swim not float.


7)Cooler:  This is a good idea if you plan an all day event at the beach or pool.  Just remember where you are going.  If you are going to a pool a cooler with rollers is awesome.  If you are going to the beach, that same cooler is going to piss you off.  Pack what you need not what they want because you will end up hungry because swimming is work and Doritos only last so long.  Pack plenty of protein sandwiches (Peanut Butter & Jellies)  and since a 12 pack of Gatorade from the store is almost as cheap as water I would go with that.  Water is great but you need salts and some sugar to replace what you loose.  Nothing is worse when the kids are burnt out and crying.  A little sugar helps them keep it together long enough to get to the car.




8)Pack: Now that you have everything you will need a pack to cram all this into.  I say go with a decent size book bag you have laying around you won't mind flipping inside out to get the sand out when you get home.



Now your ready to go.  You've unloaded the car with a pack on your back, umbrella on the shoulder, cooler in hand and shovels or a bag of toys in the other.  Everyman is the pack mule in the relationship.  This is just one way to get it there without wanting to bury a body in the sand.   

Man Fashion and the emasculation of Men in America

  Recently I've noticed a big push in the fashion industry for men specifically to start a new trend in short shorts, proving once again their are no straight men in fashion and women continue to think they know what we want.  I don't have anything against this except for the complete disconnect of what men really are going to wear.  Shorts should never be above the knee or below the calf.  There are certain things we shouldn't do but for some reason find this happening to us.  A man's thighs are not very attractive as we have unusual hair growth.  Men should not shave their legs unless they are competitive swimmers, therefore no thigh.  Also skinny jeans are a no, no.  Didn't we learn this from Break'n and Breank'n 2: Electric Boogaloo. 

   Fashion is by definition "what is cool now".  That doesn't mean it's a good idea.  I remember the 70s, 80s and 90s.  Thank god grunge came into play otherwise we would be living in a Beetle Juice Movie with crooked hats and Mad Max leather.

  I remember the short shorts with thigh high 3 ring socks on guys.  This should never happen again in history, but some reason the fashion industry believes this is a good course to take.  I for one find it hard to understand how dicks stayed confined back than.  It must of been very tight tightly whities.  Fashion of today is not doing anything new as they want everyone to think, rather they are just recycling what has already been done from different eras, smashing it together then reselling it to the general public.  Want something new and cool build me a shirt that makes me levitate or will never have to be wash, yet is so soft it doesn't feel like I'm wearing one.  This would be fashion.  Just because its trending doesn't mean it's a good thing.  

  The biggest problem are the people who buy and order clothes of major retailors are going to be stocking their shelves with skinny jeans and short shorts for guys in pastel and retinue burning colors.  I for one am going to have to start going to good will and consignment shops to find things that I won't be embarrassed to wear in public unless I plan on doing road work, than buying what their selling would be a safety necessity.  This may be one of the saddest times in fashion as all the current popular designers can't do anything but regurgitate things so old I haven't had (and am thankful for) in my closet since I was a little kid and my mother bought my clothes.

  Men wake up and realize that we are still being dressed by our mothers.  Fashion is not run by men with men saying that looks good.  Lets face it.  We all would still be wearing animal skins if this was taking place.  But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be left out of this.  I seriously wonder how many fashion people actually take a group of average guys like you and me to look and see what is "new fashion".  I guarantee we would have these people in tears in a matter of moments.  I've tried to watch those popular design shows, I feel for these emotional basket cases.  Clothing is a statement and Men have no say in this statement.

  Men for the last 20 years have taken a beating in the fashion industry.  We have slowly over time been and are being emasculated.  I understand to a certain degree women's desire to get back at being considered inferior and such, but they are taking it to far as young men and male children throughout the United States are being taught the things that allowed our species to survive and flourish are wrong.  Current cultural thinking is men need to be pressed, polished and feminine.  The fashion industry pumps this view, but I don't know a woman alive who wants a man who can't defend her from the bad guy.  They may say this isn't true, but if you are able to save her from some scary moment, I guarantee you some hot "thank you" sex afterwards.  Despite the emasculation of this our nature cannot be squashed in such a short time, we need outlets for our aggression and primal needs.  Despite what the shrinks say competition is the nature of the world and to say otherwise is a delusion setting people up for failure.

  Men take a look at magazines offered to us.  We all need to be sexy and vibrant.  These things don't offer you reality, they offer you pipe dreams and possibilities.  Reality however is not so simple with wife, kids, work, etc.  I continually breeze through these magazines in the grocery line and find hope for my children's masculinity being flushed down the toilet by people who don't live in reality.  Short, shorts and skinny jeans, scarves on men as accenting an outfit, what is America coming to.  This doesn't mean go out and dress in camouflage, running out to buy a gun you have no clue how to use.  The message is to boycott the fashion industries desire to dress us as our mothers did.

  Take a stand against short, shorts and skinny jeans on men.  Stay away from popping your collar, wearing scarves to accent your outfit.  Be men, if your going to wear shorts make sure they are not snug, let the twins breath down there, allow the air to flow, stop allowing the fashion industry cram your manhood away.  

Ideology of Education

  Lets begin with America's rankings in Education vs the rest of the world: 17th.  We are not the greatest in this category.  Rather South Korea and Finland rank as the top two.  There are several arguments that can be made for this one, America by far is the largest developed country in the world.  It's hard to education 350+ million people and several other points I don't really find of value (poverty, cultural, live chances, media, etc) as everything has a counter point.  This however is not what I believe to be the greatest problem toward education, we as Americans' face.  The issue is the ideology toward education.  When parents tell their kids it's okay for them not to learn and achieve we pass on a problem so large it will completely over whelm and undermine our countries ability to compete in the coming future widening the gap between the rich and poor.  If you are one of those who don't believe in social welfare, what are you doing to change our current negative ideology toward education?

  I understand from my own childhood the complete hate of having to go to school to learn and socialize.  This by far while growing up is still one of my most painful memories.  The difference is that despite my complete lack of desire to actually achieve I had parents who would physically toss me out of my bed to get me up.  This is a little extreme as they expected me to get an education but didn't give me the tools to do so.  Despite this the understanding 'I will have an education regardless if I wanted one' will happen despite the Temper Tantrums and self-sabotaging attempts by me and my friends to do so.

  Now despite almost every effort I put into avoiding my education I some how have several majors and several degrees to my name as it finally clicked I had two options.  Work for minimum wage or join the military to get shot if I did not make drastic changes to my life, like get an education.

  At this point I had burnt enough bridges this was no easy task.  Because I spent so many years fucking around I had to basically relearn the basics to just get into a decent college.  But the pay off is more than I could hope for.  I'm not making millions, shit the only reason I'm even middle class is because I married a woman far smarter and more accomplished than myself.  But I make enough to support a modest life.  Now some of that choice is because of children and daycare.  But without my education I wouldn't have any of this and more than likely be on the 100th job at this point in my life.

  Due to my "Dumbass Days" as I like to refer to them has taught me the value of education and the tools to pass on to my children.  But when my kid comes home and tells me "so-and-so said they don't need school and it's not important" (paraphrasing here) I go almost bonkers with contempt for these kids as more than ever kids need an education.  It's not the days my parents or I grew up where you could get a job at 10 learning a trade, rather you need a freaking high school degree to work at McDonald's in a few years, if they don't replace their work force with robots first.  Long gone are the days of the factory worker and no high school education.  Shit by the time my kids finish school and I'm ready to retire you'll need an advance college degree in robotic engineering to work in fast food.

  Education currently is free for everyone, despite education is not a given right by the constitution, rather it can be revoked by your county or state at any time.  The problem is people don't realize what a gift this is as many countries make you pay for an education and the other half don't even have schools.  To some kids this sounds great, schools out for ever.  That's the mentality many parents teach their kids: "School is a waste of time."  This ideology, this complete belief by a parent that their kid is better off without knowing how to communicate and have skills to support themselves is the reason why programs like "No Child Left Behind" are rammed down our throats.  Until we as American's start making more positive decisions we will get more government involvement.   Until the parents who have the greatest impact on their children's life change this "school sucks" mentality the education system is going to continue to lose the ability to teach.

  When a parent sends their kid to school with reinforced notions of only having to go because the state is making them, that child has nothing to do other than fuck up the education of the other kids around them.  Why do they care, they don't need to be there, and we all know that disciplining a child is wrong because it might damage their precious psyche, places educators at a disadvantage.  Not only do they have to put up with the kids behaviors in school, they have to put up with the parents reinforcement of this behavior.

  I'm a firm believer in corporal punishment.  Before you flip out and go all liberal, let me explain.  One of the best evolutionary traits that we have are pain receptors throughout our bodies.  They tell us "that hurts" there for, it's a bad idea.  Example: A kid messes with the stove and only after he/she gets burned do they stop messing with the stove.  No kid I've ever met had a healthy respect for fire until they got burned pretty good.  When I grew up and I got in trouble I got it at school than came home and got it again.  I learned to not do that again because walking without pain is a pleasurable experience.  This pain burns literal neural pathways in the brain connecting "whatever they did" to pain.  I have a fear of heights because I fell out of a tree and hurt myself pretty good.  Doesn't mean I allow this from stopping me from jumping 60 foot rocks to the water below.  I have a healthy respect of falling. 

  My second argument for corporal punishment is that by nature we are evolutionary designed to be the biggest, toughest and smartest.  No dumb, weak hunter-gather survived long.  This however is not the case these days.  We aspire to reward the stupid, ignorant and weak.  The whole American Economic System is based on taking and screwing over everyone else that's not you.  By giving the last place team trophies for participation we are doing a disservice to our children.  "What about their 'feelings?"  My answer is feelings are something you have, what you do matters.  What we don't teach our kids when our feelings are hurt is analyzing why they are hurt in the first place and finding a solution to not get them hurt again, rather this mentality of 'it's okay to lose' fosters a quiting mentality because it's "to hard", "not fair", lets blame others for my failures rather than accept responsibility for my choices and actions or how do I get better so this doesn't happen again.  We continually are giving our kids mixed signals that gives them a false perception of the world by not teaching them the world is a hard cruel world that will chew you up and spit you out if you aren't constantly moving forward.  The world is unfair and those who are at the top have to do less because they have more.  This is the nature of the world.

  We as people like to think that we aren't animals, that are basic primal behaviors are not in play in our lives.  But this is not the case.  Our basic, primal behaviors are the driving force in everything we do.  By only accepting this, acknowledging them do we gain the power to over come them.  So when people talk about feelings, I groan because your feelings are your basic primal behaviors trying to get out.  My dog listens to it's feelings more than I do.  If your every action and choice is dictated by your "feelings" does that make you more animal or human? 

  So when I believe in corporal punishment I understand the ramifications of when and when not to spank my kids.  There is a line between beating and disciplining a child and sometimes when our feelings get in the way that line gets blurred.  Corporal punishment is a very good way to instill fear in the right things.  Throwing things at a teacher, getting in a fight, bullying others, and the whole list goes on and on.  But it keeps the "kids who don't care" in line so the rest of them can get on with the learning process.  The problem is because of the liberal stand point on this and fear of kids and their parents, teachers are tasked with worrying about and managing kids feelings rather than teaching them the basics of reading, writing, math and science.

  When parents don't push their kids to achieve specifically in education we are promoting a losing mentality which will foster hardship for their future.  This is not to say that a traditional education is the right route for your kid.  Personally I wish I took the blue collar route as I could be running my own company right now as a master electrician, plumber, HVAC or something else in which requires as much education as college, plus work experience.  I don't know about you, but knowing how to fix my air conditioner when it breaks sounds pretty good to me.  Education regardless of the career path needs to be fostered and pushed for, for without it our kids futures are not going to be that bright.  I personally don't plan on having my kids living in my basement or having to struggle the way I did because of my 'Dumb Ass Days'.  This however is one person whose ideology is based on a must have education ideology where so many other people believe or foster the notion education as worthless.  Until people literally shun their neighbors for having "education is worthless" ideology the system and our country will never be able to reach it's potential.

LED vs LCD vs Plasma

Lets start with how awesome TVs have evolved from the black & white got to get up to change the channel, wrap your brother in foil while doing a hand stand to get reception to a TV that will turn on by verbal command with as many apps as your phone.

  The most common issue I come across when looking for a TV is which is the one to pick.  In a previous installment I talked about the perfect size TV for your space.  Now we are going to discuss what is the best TV hardware.

  I recently just bought a smart LED Samsung.  I'm partial to Samsung as I've found them easy to use and always having a great design style.  The things to remember is once you know the size TV your looking for is when to buy them.  Right now (March-June) is the best time as stores are trying to get in the newest and greatest.  Never buy the newest and greatest as you will be paying too much for something in 8 months will be more than 50% off by this time next year.  Plus everyone has a chance to review the specific TVs and how the bells and whistles work compared to others.

  You've narrowed it down to the size and model class but since it's offered in all three categories (Plasma, LCD, LED) your scratching a bald spot at our temple trying to figure out the lucky lady.

  Plasma by far is the best visually, having the closes to true black.  However if you plan on putting this in your sun room you should reconsider this as Plasma and LED reflect ambient light off their screens as they are reflective.  Putting either of these (LED/Plasma) in a brightly lit room is a no,no.  Plasma's are great for your basement and bedroom with black out curtains.

  LED is great for a living room with some light as it can be set to be bright enough to not reflect the light around you.  LED is by far the most energy efficient as LED lighting requires the least amount of energy.  LED visually is so bright and beautiful.  The blacks aren't as good as Plasma but they come in a close second.  Reflection is a problem if your lights and windows are in front of or above the TV.  If you have your lights behind the TV there is no reflection issues which makes an LED pretty nice. 

  LCD is in my opinion the best overall as it's screen is not very reflective and gives you very clear and great images.  The problem with LCD's is the price as this is the most expensive of the three.  Plasma being the cheapest and LED falling in between.  LCD has lost a lot of it's popularity since the LED has become a cheaper alternative.  However if you want a TV that will fit in any room without to much fuss than this is worth the cost.

Bulbs on these TVs have close to the same life span of about 8-10 years.  They are easily replaced if you have any idea what a circuit board looks like.  The thing to remember when choosing between the two is what are you going to be watching on your new TV.  Do you play video games and blue ray movies are do you watch soap operas on standard basic cable.  Don't pick a TV that doesn't suit you, pick something that will meet your needs rather than trying to accommodate the new TV.

Buying a New House

For all of you, like me who are in the process of buying a house, you need to ask yourself: Is the house I'm looking for something I plan on having for a short time or am I looking for a house I plan on dying in?  Once you answer this question you are ready to start your quest.

Right now the market is very good to buy as interest rates are low and the market is returning to the slightly affordable era of 2005.  As many of you have been watching the DIY network and other Home Network shows on how to make your home you, you no doubt have all these fantastic ideas on the perfect house.  Throw these preconceived notions out as you will never find a house with everything the way you want it in your budget.  Make a NEED vs WANT list of all the things you are looking for in a home before you buy it.  The trick is finding a house that will satisfy your needs will be a more realistic idea unless you have the money to throw down.  Than your better off building your own house in the first place.

My checklist (need/realistic):

• solid foundation
• in the school district I want
• no mold or mildew issues
• fireplace/stove (Real fireplace made of stone attached to the outside of the house. Not those build in thin steel ones or gas)
• Basement with manageable structural supports
• Heat pump
• Decent yard space for kids and animals

My checklist (want/unrealistic):

• Swimming pool
• full kitchen with all the bells and whistles
• perfect neighborhood with all my friends living next door.
• built in surround round system throughout the house
• fenced in security fence with razor wire
• bomb shelter with 10 years supply of food
• cathedral ceilings with windows facing west
• large screen in porch/deck

 See how I've split the parts of my list I can live with and the parts I can live without.  The realistic part of the list is something you need to be careful about.  As per many states a home inspection is necessary, having a home inspector come threw is paid by the current home owner doesn't work for you (catch my drift).  My suggestion is to find a reliable class A contractor or structural engineer to do a walk through of the house you want to buy and an environmental check through a reliable company in your area (includes not limited to: Radon, Mold, Mildew, termites, bed bugs and other pests.)  When the engineer/contractor goes through make sure you mention you would like to know where the load bearing walls are in the house.  This will cost you out of pocket but will save you a giant headache when you learn you have to evacuate your house because the foundation is eroded or the basement is more a swimming pool than basement when it rains.

  Now that you have the technical stuff out of the way things to keep in mind when you see a house.  When you walk through a property you are going to be inundated with the home owners sense of style (paint, fixtures, lighting, furniture, carpet, yard, etc).  For most people buying a house this is an automatic turn off.  Keep in mind fixtures cabinets and everything else can be replaced with youtube videos and trips to your local giant hardware store.  The big thing you are looking for is how the house is put together.  Are the window's single, double, triple pane (cost your heating and cooling bill), are their cracks in the drywall (structural issue), are the baseboards sealed correctly, do the the bedrooms and bathrooms, have enough area for you, how does the roof look (will it need to be replaced sooner than later: [this should be answered by your contractor]), are their deep groves in the grass from run off, does the crawl spaces and attics clean and insulated.

  So everything looks manageable nothing a little effort and $500 dollars won't be able to fix.  Now you like the house but you don't love the house.  This part takes a little bit of imagination and knowing where the load bearing walls are.  Example:  The kitchen is smaller than you want, but the living room you will never use is on the other side of the kitchen behind a non-load bearing wall.  Well guess what with a little help from youtube (if you are handy, if not I recommend bringing in a professional) you can take down the wall and expand your kitchen.  If the wall is load bearing you will definitely need to bring in a professional.  See the house as yours and what you are able to do with it.

  For me when I buy a home it is going to be the one I'm going to die in unless I some how convince my wife to move to the Virgin Islands with a house right on the beach.  When I see a house I look at it's potential verses how long before I can realize that potential.  Example:  I see a house I can live in for a few years before I start any major work because I'm going to fork over more money versus I see a house with a lot of potential that needs some upgrades right away at a cheaper price.  I'm going to pay the exact same but with a little effort the cheaper house is something I can truly love sooner than later.

  Cost vs need.  Lets face it in these financial hard times owning a home is an investment.  If your someone who is constantly changing jobs and moving, owning a house is stupid.  You don't have the flexibility of leaving and going across the country for the next job.  Renting is cheaper on average and when something goes wrong the owner not you has to fix the problem.  With owning a house you are responsible for the flooded basement because the water heater busts.  Currently I rent because it's easier to deal with than owning a home, however I am in the process of finding a home when my wife's job becomes more settled.  Constantly moving is a pain in the ass if you own a home.  It's easier for us to rent and move than buy, move, sell, wait for someone to buy our house while we rent because we can't afford another house payment.  The idea of owning a home is the great American Dream.  However if you jump the gun and buy over your limit or not the perfect fit for you, than you suffer.  Buying a home is not like buying a flat screen or getting a dog.  Take the time (if it's years, it's years) to find the perfect financial and living fit for you.

 

New Dogs: Potty Training

Hey Everyone,

  I know it's been a while since I've been around.  I apologize, life with kids kinda of have a way of leaving you little time to deal with posts.

  Whenever you add an addition to your family either a kid or a dog you have to take on the responsibility to be vigilant until they are trained.  I don't include cats as they don't listen and they tend to be their own person from the time you get them, put a litter box down and there you go.  Kids don't mature as fast as dogs despite how much we want them to.

  Dogs specifically are something are a little more interesting.  Unlike kids you get to pick and choose what you want.  For me I have plenty of space, time and a liking of large dogs that are good with kids where as someone who lives in an apartment wouldn't pick the same large dog as me.  So when you pick a dog you have to do the research, if you go through the SPCA which is good and I've taken advantage of them numerous times throughout my life if they don't have someone with a good idea of dogs can mislabel and you can end up with a dog with an energy level and personality not suitable to you and your family.

  Now you know what you want and have suited up to take on the responsibility for a new dog, just like a child you have to continually be on top of them to train them.  Just like children dogs are intelligent enough to learn if you resort to this basic principle.  Reward good behavior and punish bad behavior CONSISTENTLY.  Now you have to be aware if you are punishing the dog because you screwed up or because the dog screwed up.  You have to understand a dog will love you no matter what but if you want a dog for the rest of your life you want to be friends with than be clear in what you want from them through consistent and persistence by using positive and negative reinforcement (See B.F. Skinner and Pavlov)

  POTTY TRAINING:
  If you are going to keep the dog in the house this is a must and for the first 6 months as the most important training you will do with them.  Once you get this down you are more than capable of mastering everything else from sit, roll over, sic 'em.

  Reward for going outside and punish for when they don't.  The punishment should only be given once you have firmly established a positive reward for taking the dog outside to do it's business.  I recommend until you have firmly trained the dog use a crate of the appropriate size.  This prevents your carpets and finding random puddles and squishiness on bare feet.  If you are getting a puppy laying a pad down in the crate will help absorb any of the pee and poop.

  The common thinking is every hour to three hours for puppies and dogs under 6 months.  If you get a dog over 6 months.  Anything over 6 months taking them out every 3 hours is sufficient, but you have to be consistent and persistent.  Every time they go crap and piss you have got to love them and make the dog feel like they are the king or queen for dropping their load.  This is huge as positive reinforcement is very important.  Now when you come home and they dropped their kids off you can't go ballistic as to much time as pass, the dog just won't understand, you teach them you are angry when you get home.  Put when they drop one or attempt to drop one while you are home you have to scare them and/or make it very apparent they just did something very wrong and need to not do that.  Taking them outside immediately and wait until they go again, rewarding them when they do.

  If you get a dog at the 6 week mark than hopefully through this you will able to train the dog to be house broken by three to four months.

   A few things to help you along the way.  The first is don't leave food and water out while you are gone.  Without food and water they don't need to go because they don't have full bladders and stomachs.  Make sure to take them out before you leave and as soon as you get home.  If you can come home during the day to let them out would help this training (if we live in a perfect world).  The last thing to remember is patience.  Just like children, dogs need to be trained and without good training relying on negative and positive treatment reinforced consistently you can't instill the desired effect from your new dog.