Daddy, Can I Take Basketball Lessons?

There are moments parenting when you realize just how much your child is like you. This week was one of those moments. The theme of my blog is sports, food and my kids. And it's clear to me that if my older daughter had her own blog (and she's already asked me if she could), her theme would be sports, food and dad.

It started last week when she got in trouble in school for talking when she shouldn't have. A normal occurrence for her, but this time she swore she wasn't talking and didn't understand why her teacher wasn't very nice. As a kid, I was a big talker, too. And I was also a trusting soul, thinking everybody should be nice and honest. Teaching my daughter that some people just aren't nice and preparing her to deal with it, I could hear my father's voice some 25 years ago.

As the weekend rolled around, my daughter's sports-loving nature shined through. Saturday, she completed her third dance audition in eight days. Ballet, jazz, and finally my favorite - hip hop. In fact, this summer, in addition to playing taxi driver for her to the studio several times a week, I'll haul myself up there for an adult hip hop class. Yeah, she got her dance skills from me. Of course, I was much older than seven when I learned to dance.

At seven, I was dancing around the schoolyard basketball court doing my best MJ. And Sunday, when we arrived at a friend's house for a kids play date and cook out, I quickly took to the pick-up b-ball game going on in the driveway. My younger daughter went inside to find her friend, but my older hugged my hip, dribbling around and taking five foot jump shots, even making a few. She played for over an hour, dripping wet of sweat, stopping only momentarily for water breaks. She even had a ripped pant leg to show for her newly found passion.  By the end of the night, she'd be asking me "Daddy, can I take basketball lessons?"

When we returned home that night, we both hit the showers, and then proceeded to put a delicious bow on the weekend by hanging out in the kitchen and baking a blueberry crumb cake together. She worked on mastering her measurements, artfully placing blueberries on top of the batter I mixed up, and sprinkling streusel on top.

Yes, mini-me is on full display these days and I couldn't be more proud!

What's in a Number?

For today's blog post, I thought I'd play a little game called "What's in a Number?"

20 - Today is Belmont Stakes day.  20 years ago on Belmont Stakes day, June 5 to be exact, I was a senior in high school and it was Prom Night.  For most seniors, it was a night they had looked forward to for four years.  But for me, it meant I couldn't be at the big race.  And as a highly superstitious young man, it also meant I was concerned my dad wouldn't have a great day of wagering.

Beautiful Belmont Park

4 - You see, for the previous 4 Belmont Stakes days, I was by my dad's side as he showed off his handicapping prowess for the world to see, or at least everyone at the track in Elmont, New York those days.  Each of those four consecutive years, my dad had a winning Pick Six ticket for picking the winners of six consecutive races.  And many of those paydays were significant.

5 - I spent my afternoon at home watching the races leading up to the Belmont Stakes on the racing channel.  My dad had called me earlier in the day to let me know which horses he had in his Pick Six bet that day.  As the day went along, it become obvious that perhaps there was just something magical about Belmont Stakes day.  One by one, my dad's pick crossed the finish line first.  By 5pm, he had picked the first 5 races correctly.

5:31 - It was getting close to prom, so I had to start to get ready.  I hopped in for a quick shower, my thoughts split between the upcoming race and my night ahead.  My date for the prom was a good friend of mine and we were sharing a limo with my four buddies and their dates, of which only one was actually a girlfriend.  So there wasn't much of the typical "prom night" talk.  This wasn't the prelude to American Pie.  We were just prepared for a fun party followed by an early morning breakfast before calling it quits.  But for now, it was almost 5:31pm, post time for the 1993 Belmont States.  I jumped out of the shower, wrapped myself up in a towel, and had a seat on the couch.

13 - As the horses loaded in the gate, I took a final note of the odds.  My dad had a few different horses in his Pick Six ticket that would let him cash in, including a few long shots.  One of those was Colonial Affair, a 13-1 long shot ridden by Julie Krone.  Krone was one of the best jockeys in New York and was seeking to become the first female every to ride a Belmont Stakes winner.

Colonial Affair wins the 1993 Belmont Stakes

2:29 - At 5:31, thirteen three year old horses sprung out of the starting gate on their way around the mile and half Belmont course, the largest track in North America (click to watch the race).  With my tuxedo and cummerbund hanging nearby, I watched anxiously, keeping a close on my dad's picks, and holding my breath.  When the horses hit the top of the stretch, that magical feeling began to come over me again.  2 minutes and 29 seconds after they raced away from the gate, Colonial Affair broke the finish line first, followed by Kissin Kris, also at 13-1, and Wild Gale, a 51-1 bomb (racing term for a huge longshot).

6 - Within a minute, the phone rang.  It was my dad.  He had done it again!  But this wasn't just about hitting the Pick 6, his fifth straight on a Belmont Stakes day.  Oh no.  In addition to the Pick Six, my dad also liked Kissin Kris' chances, so he had made a whole bunch of bets that included the top two runners.  He had even thrown in Wild Gale into a few bets, which meant he had hit the exacta and the triple.  We hung on the phone waiting for the payoffs.  We both stared at the infield tote board, my dad in person and me on the tv.  I might not have been there that day, but it sure felt like I was.  And then, in a flash, amazement!

463.60 - The 4-3 exacta paid $463.60.  Not bad for an exacta, but that was nothing compared to what flipped up there next.

18,677 - The 4-3-14 triple, the combination of two 13-1 longshots and the 51-1 bomb, paid $18,677.  Jackpot!  At the time, it was the biggest triple payoff in Belmont Stakes history, a race that had been run for over 100 years.  And we hadn't even seen the Pick Six results yet.

40 - I've search high and low and can't find the exact results from that day, but I believe the Pick Six paid about $20,000 that day.  In a moment, my dad had raked in a cool $40k.  Not too shabby.  Once I stopped screaming for joy, my dad just calmly said to me "Michael, go enjoy your prom."  I took a moment to compose myself, put on my tuxedo and headed out.  Yeah, that's a day many of my high school friends think about a lot.  And it's one of the most exciting memories of their lives.  For me, that day gave me two of the most exciting memories of my life.

Add caption

9 - And of course, I've got to make my picks for the day.  I'll keep it simple this time around.  I love the 9, Revolutionary.  He's well rested now and ran a great race in the Kentucky Derby on a muddy track, just like today's conditions at Belmont.  I'll bet $80 to win.  And in the spirit of the twenty anniversary of that enormous triple payoff, I'll throw out the favorite Orb hoping his Derby win is still taking its toll, and go for the big payoff.  I'll still take Revolutionary to win, but I'll pick five long shots hoping to get two of them to run second and third.  So, a $1 triple of 9 (Revolutionary), with 7 (Oxbow), 8 (Midnight Taboo), 11 (Vyjack), 13 (Unlimited Budget) and 14 (Golden Soul), a total best cost of $20.  I'm in the hole now for $300 for all my Triple Crown bets, but I've got a feeling today's going to be another magical Belmont day.  Hey dad, give me a little help, ok?

What's for Dinner?

Three seemingly simple words.  One very basic question.  Yet almost impossible to answer.  "What's for Dinner?"  There are about 2,000 plant species which are cultivated for food.  There are hundreds of proteins to choose from.   And starches..more than enough options.  Dinner can be fried, sautéed, boiled, broiled, poached, steamed, grilled, heck even eaten raw.  So why is it so hard for a family of four to figure out how to nourish itself when the sun begins to set?  The obvious answer to this question is that there's too much to choose from.  But if you ask me, it's a lot more complicated than that.

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Which must make dinner those most confrontational.  When you eliminate all of the dislikes, the impossible to get items, the expensive splurge ingredients and the unidentifiable, iced-over packaged goods buried deep in your freezer, you've probably only really got 10-20 possible options.  You would think it would be easy to agree on just one each night.   But it's not, and most nights, coming to a consensus requires a minor war to break out first.  And I think I've boiled it (pun intended) down to a few causes:

• We're just too tired to cook.  There's really no escaping this feeling, especially as the week drags on.  But if we were smart and planned ahead, and maybe watched a few Rachael Ray shows over the weekend, we'd be prepared with an agreed upon menu for the week.  We'd have meals prepared over the weekend for quick reheating or have simple recipes lined up making dinner a snap.
• We were too lazy to defrost something from the freezer last night.  Yes, the day was crazy and we were tired and just wanted to go to bed.  But last night, when our bellies weren't doing their best "Little Shop of Horrors" impression, was the best time to decide what's for dinner today.
• We're all too damn picky.  The purpose of eating is to stay alive, and while our taste buds want to soak up the good life, it won't kill any of us to eat rice two nights in a row.  Or to have a sandwich or some scrambled eggs and just be done with it.  But we're always searching for the perfect choice.  And let's be real, not many of us ever finish dinner and say "That was the best home cooked meal I've ever had and debating what to eat for an hour and a half was worth it all!"
• There's just so much to do tonight.  True enough.  There's homework to finish and school lunches to pack.  There's some lingering work from the day to wrap up.  The garden needs to be watered and the laundry needs to be done.  It's hard to focus on taking the time for a nice family meal so we start thinking about short cuts and boxed food.  But we're torn up with guilt over just how bad that stuff is for us.  And in the end, we don't take the time to relish in each other's company.
• We just can't agree.  So the first four reasons are nice and logical.  And I think they can all be conquered.  But then there's this dreaded fact.  A family of four rarely agrees on anything.  Every decision is a battle.  Every decision a chance for each of us to flex our muscles, to show who's boss, to take control and get what we want.  I'm not sure I have the magic bullet for this one, but perhaps if we establish some rules and a game plan, we can make it work...with some compromise.  So here's a quick idea my family will put to the test this week:
• We'll each choose two staple ingredients we want to eat this week.
• We'll brainstorm dishes we like to eat with those ingredients.
• Then we'll each choose a main dish for the family to eat one night.
• We'll make sure at least one night's dinner is cooked in a crock pot.
• We'll leave one night open to bring in a quick dinner and one night to go out for dinner.
• That leaves just one night open, so I guess we'll let the dog choose that one!

I'll report briefly on how the week goes next Friday.  In the meantime, I'd love to hear from you on how your family conquers this age-old question, or I'd invite you to try my idea along with us this week and let us know how it goes!

Can We Go Out For Dinner?

My younger daughter and I are so alike it's scary.  Everyone who looks at the two of us instantly knows we are father and daughter.  But they may or may not realize that our behaviors are near identical, too.  Over the past several years, my daughter's anxiety levels have risen tremendously, triggered early on by the tornado that rolled throughour backyard in 2011.  Combined with what appears to be a solid dose of ADHD, she can have a hard time concentrating and an even harder time keeping her cool when she doesn't get her way.  It's been a struggle to say the least.

I've, too, have had my share of traumatic life experiences including panic attacks in college, losing my dad too soon, being apart from my mom for several years, several job changes, not to mention a tornado rolling through my backyard.  And while those are stories for another day, I think it's fair to say they have left me a little anxious, too.  I don't have the same focus issues, but it's clear I have some trouble keeping my cool, especially when combating a young child who's lost her cool.  So it's no secret if you've spent any time around my family that my younger daughter and I can go at it pretty strong sometimes.  But one thing remains constant through it all...I love her more than words can ever express.  And every night, I lay in bed wondering how to make things better.  How to teach her the necessary lessons in life while balancing that with letting her just be her.

Tonight, for at least one night, I found the answer.  My wife and older daughter were off at dance class so it was just me and the young one.  Coming off three straight nights of knockdown, drag out, steel cage match, battle royals, and feeling a little lost, my daughter said to me "Can We Go Out For Dinner?".  Now on most week nights after a stressful day of work, I would have said no without hesitating.  But this night, I paused, thought about those night laying in bed thinking about how to make things better, and said yes!  I set out two parameters for her before we left:

1. You need to show me you can behave like a young lady.  You need to sit nicely and have a nice dinner.
2. We are going to take some time to talk about what's been going on and figure out how to make things better.

And off we went.  We shared one side of a booth, hugging hips.  We colored for a bit.  She read to me from the book she was assigned to read this week.  We had some bread.  We talked about our feelings.  We ate our dinner.  And we talked some more.  We even came up with a plan of attack for when she starts to get a little angry.  And I think if I can do my part, she'll do hers as well.  We came home and she went to bed without a single fuss, which on the heels of the last three nights, was a much needed reprieve.  And perhaps a great sign that if we all just stay calm and keep our heads on straight, we can make this work.  I know it's just one night, and I know it won't always work, but just having a plan is a start.

So tonight's lesson?  Food can really bring people together.  And if the plan works, I'll share it in a follow up blog post soon.  Wish us luck!

When Will There Be Another Peanut-Free Night?

For the first time since I started this blog, I get to write about something that combines all three of my passions: my kids, food and sports!  And it's all thanks to a very special support group called NC FACES (Food Allergic Children Excelling Safely).  This past Sunday night, the "volunteer support group that provides a social and emotional support network for families dealing with food allergies in the RTP area of North Carolina" organized a night out at the ballgame.

My wife and I had recently been discussing our realization that our younger daughter would not only never get to eat Chinese food because of her peanut allergies, but that she'd also never get to smell the fresh cut grass at a baseball game because of the abundance of peanut shells littering the pavement.  Then my wife learned about NC FACES from a co-worker of hers.  Ironically, they had just planned a Peanut-Free night at the Durham Bulls game!  Our little girl was going to get to see her first baseball game thanks to this wonderful collection of people.

Peanut-Free Signs All Around the Porch Area

The weather this past weekend was pretty crappy so for a while I didn't think the game would even happen.  Throughout the day, there were random passing downpours, but as game time approached, the clouds parted partially and some sun broke through.  Game on!  NC FACES had secured the porch area down the left field line and put up Peanut-Free signs everywhere.  The area had been cleaned thoroughly with not a shell to be found anywhere.  We were all given special stickers to show our support for the cause, and they even put out nutritional and ingredient info on the ballpark food so parents could be sure they would purchase safely for their kids.

The Famous Durham Bull and Blue Monster

We took in the sights and sounds, we eat hot dogs and nachos, we stretched during the seventh inning  and we cheered on the Bulls.  My daughter even got a tour behind the Blue Monster over which the famous bull from Bull Durham sits.  It's true, she cared much more about what was happening off the field than on, but it was a truly special night for all of us, especially for her.  It was a night that left her asking "When will there be another peanut-free night?"

So a special thanks to NC FACES for providing my daughter with an opportunity to feel like every other kid out there!  We are excited to be new members of this terrific group.

Will My Preakness Picks Be Any Better?

Since I didn't make a complete fool of myself with my Derby picks, I'm at it again for the Preakness Stakes, the second of three legs in the Triple Crown.  Since there are only nine horses in this race, here's my quick analysis of each horse, followed by my wagers.  I'll stick with another $100 in bets in an attempt to make up the $100 I lost in the Derby and hopefully a lot more.

• Orb (#1) ran the biggest race of his young career winning the Derby and he doesn't figure to repeat that performance in the Preakness.  Derby winners are usually the favorite in the Preakness, and they have been known to run better than they should in this race, so while I'll look for a better value to win it all, I can't throw him out completely.
• Goldencents (#2) went into the Derby coming off his biggest race and figured to go backwards a bit in the Derby, but not that bad.  He was beaten by almost 50 lengths which is a whole lot in a horse race.  There are a lot of possible reasons for the horrible performance including distance, too many speed horses in the race, and most of all, a very sloppy wet track.  He should get back to form in the Preakness, as long as the predicted rain doesn't mess with this race, too.  And since I figure the betters might shy away from him a bit, he'll definitely be in my wagers.
• Titletown Five (#3) looks too slow to keep up with this field, so he's out.
• Departing (#4) is a new entrant to the triple crown, with four weeks of rest to support his efforts.  He seems to have done well with the increasing distance and is a serious contender.  He should have enough speed to sit right behind the frontrunners and strike when they turn for home.  He's a major player in my betting.
• Mylute (#5) ran a big race closing fast in the shadows of Orb to finish fifth in the Derby.  He figures to struggle off his biggest effort so far and as one of the favorites, I don't think he's worth the odds.  So he's out of my betting.
• Oxbow (#6) ran alright in the Derby until fading late like many other horses running a mile and a quarter for the first time.  The Preakness is a sixteen of a mile shorter which should help, but I just don't think he'll have enough to win it all.  But at a potential long shot price, I'll take a shot at him finishing in the top 3.
• Willtakecharge (#7) was coming off his best race heading into the Derby and might have been turned off by the wet track and added distance.  He's probably too slow to win it all, but at a decent price, I'll throw him into at least one of my triple bets.
• Sometimes when handicapping a race, there comes a horse you just don't know what to do with.  Governor Charlie (#8) is that horse.  He's lightly raced with only three starts in his lifetime and he hasn't run in almost two months.  He's never run against this quality of competition either.  All signs are that he probably needs a few races of this caliber to be competitive, but if he can continue to improve, it's not that difficult to make a case for him.  I'll throw him in a few bets because his price might be too good to pass up, but I'm not counting on much this time.
• Itsmyluckyday (#9) took a huge step back in the Derby and I'm not certain he can recover quickly enough with just two weeks since that race, so he's off my radar.

With the analysis behind me, I'm putting all my eggs in the Departing basket.  And since I like to try to hit it big, I'll take a shot with a bunch of triples without Orb for a big price.  Here are my wagers:

• $20 Win on 4 (Departing) (total bet costs $20)
• $5 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 1 (Orb) (total bet costs $10)
• $5 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 2 (Goldencents) (total bet costs $10)
• $3 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 6 (Oxbow) (total bet costs $6)
• $3 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 7 (Willtakecharge) (total bet costs $6)
• $3 Exacta Box 4 (Departing) and 8 (Governor Charlie) (total bet costs $6)
• $2 Triple Box 4 (Departing), 1 (Orb) and 2 (Goldencents) (total bet costs $12)
• $1 Triple Box 4 (Departing), 2 (Goldencents) and 7 (Willtakecharge) (total bet costs $6)
• $2 Triple Part-Wheel 4 (Departing) with 2 (Goldencents), 6 (Oxbow), 7 (Willtakecharge)and 8 (Governor Charlie) (total bet costs $24)

Here's a quick reminder on what these bets mean:

• Win - The horse has to win the race
• Exacta Box - The two horses have to finish first and second in either order
• Triple Box - The three horses have to finish first, second and third in any order
• Triple Part-Wheel - The first horse must win the race and two of the other horses in the bet must finish second and third

Really, Westin?

If you read my last blog post, you know I have a minor addiction to desserts.  In fact, when bed time nears, if I don’t get my sweets, I can get a bit cranky.  So when I travel on business, things can get rough, especially if I don’t have a rental car to go on the hunt for a bakery, ice cream shop, or even a gas station convenience store stocked with goodies.

It takes great planning to ensure that when the opportunity strikes to procure a snack for later in the night, I strike.  So I’m always on the lookout for a packaged good at lunch time or even a dessert-to-go if dinner leaves me too stuffed to eat it right away.  But the real solution would be to find a hotel chain that cares more about customer service than one that feels compelled to rip off its guests.  One that finds a way to make their guests feel like they are at home rather than feeling like they are in an unfamiliar country where everyone is speaking a different language.

Snacks Available in the Room

I’ve been in Boston this week for a work trip, and last night I went out for dinner with a group of co-workers.  At the end of dinner, no one was overly excited about the dessert offerings, so we decided to head back to the hotel.  About 30 minutes after checking back into my room, the nighttime cravings started to kick in.  But with no rental car and a hotel not located within walking distance of anything open, I weighed my in-room options, only to be left asking myself “Really, Westin?”  A normal canister of M&M’s that would sell for $2 at the grocery store was $4.  The short can of Pringles was also at least twice the price.  But perhaps most ridiculous of all was the ice cream on the room service menu.  A scoop of vanilla ice cream costs $9.  But wait, there’s more.  Let’s add a 15% service charge, a 3% administrative charge, 7% sales tax, and a $3.75 delivery charge.  That makes this scoop of ice cream $15.  What, is it topped with gold flakes?  Most take-out restaurants deliver food miles away for free, or maybe $2 at most.  This scoop of ice cream doesn’t even have to leave the building.

In-Room Menu with Overpriced Ice Cream and Surcharges

Yeah, I know I’m venting and yeah, I know it’s not just the Westin that charges outlandish prices for in-room food and room service, but as a business travel, I demand more.  And perhaps if I traveled lots more and had a fancy club membership I’d get all this for free on the 39^th floor in some fancy bar overlooking the bright city lights.  But I don’t.  That still doesn’t mean I should be taken advantage.  So I say to you Westin and all the other hotels out there like you, find a better way.  You can’t possibly be making enough revenue from these sales to offset the negative customer experience.  Bring down your prices, make travelers feel like they’re at home, and maybe they will write better reviews about their experiences!

Have you had similar experiences?  Or perhaps you’ve found hotels that are already doing this?  Either way, I want to hear about it!  Please feel free to comment below.