All Things Finn

Still Skiing: A repost of an old rant.

2013-01-03T07:59:00.000-08:00

Since the 2012-2013 winter has officially arrived here in Central Oreogn, I thought I'd re-post this old rant about the choice to teach Finn skiing. Laste year was monumnetal as Finn's skills took off and we found ourselves cruising blue square runs without hesitation.Much of my reasoning remains and I'm glad to have not heard any rumblings about wanting to snowboard.

With winter slowly approaching (real slow, it seems) my thoughts have begun to turn toward the eventual introduction and teaching skiing to Finn. Most disheartening, though, is the seemingly strong affinity of young people with snowboarding. I would never confess to actually despising snowboarding (I do have a real-life experience with snowboarding, which is by all accounts horrible) despite the trend of my tele-skiing compatriots to do so.
With that said, I'm not sure I could endure a child who completely leans toward single-plank snow-riding. It goes without saying that Finn will find his first excursions on snow to be ski-focused; whether being towed behind his dad (and mom, but don't tell her yet) or sliding down the various slopes I plan to push him up.
In the end, snowboarding holds a special place for many winter recreationalists; any act of sliding down a snowy slope whether on a snowboard or a plastic tray can be joyful. But, for many, including myself, style represents an ethical choice, founded in many factors, including history and tradition. Perhaps a few generations from now, snowboarding will hold a special place in the traditions of our culture. But the act of skiing holds roots in a group of people that embraced winter as an inevitable part of life and discovered means to overcome the situation of their place.
Perhaps the nobility of skiing rests in the lost hope of a simple lifestyle, where daily tasks and chores were implemented with the inherent joy of sliding across snow.
I'm sure there is more to reason about skiing versus snowboarding; I'm certain many snowboarders will argue for the inevitable position snowboarding holds in our culture. But in the end, I know how to ski and so will Finn.

2012-06-11T06:01:00.002-07:00

Let sleeping dogs lie.

The Morning Commute

2010-03-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

Finn attempted negotiations with me the other morning to ride his bike to school. For the past few weeks we have routinely traveled to school each morning by bike. I serving as mule with Finn perched comfortably in his chariot presenting running commentary on Bend's morning traffic. The other day, while going through the morning pre-flight check, Finn eagerly presented the option of riding his own bike to school, a mere 2 miles, mostly flat, with a large bike lane the entire way. I explained "when you get bigger, you can ride your bike to school" which prompted a vigorous response of: "No, I'm big now" choreographed with a demonstration of how tall he can stand and wide he could stretch.

Put on a helmet, kid. And, slow down.

2010-02-27T23:03:00.000-08:00

Finn discovered the freedom of the open road high upon his tricycle seat. Tomorrow, he and Nana Pete go sled dogging at Mt. Bachelor. Already a seasoned musher, Finn anticipates an exciting ride, with clear views. He says he'll take care of Nana Pete if she gets too scared.

Birthdays during Xmas

2009-12-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

The week of December 20 proves hectic, exciting, and a bit overwhelming ever since Finn decided to arrive a couple weeks early two years ago. A birthday on December 22 proves challenging if simply because the level of energy from birthday and Xmas is enhanced and extended over several days, with little opportunity for rest and recuperation.
We held a birthday party for Finn on the 22nd and discovered several key points in hosting a week of holiday/birthday energy:
1) Hold a birthday/holiday party and provide parents plenty of beverage choices. A kids party is not necessarily for the kids. Remember their chaperones that attend by default.
2) For the party, provide Kid Safe Zones - lots of padding; no small parts; soundproof walls. Parents need some time to select their beverages and enjoy them without worrying about choking, falling, banging, or crashing.
3) No gifts! Really, no gifts, please. We have enough presents to last a .....
4) "Present Week". The whole week belongs to Finn. A present a day. No toy left behind. Plus clean up is a breeze.
and 5) When its over, take down the tree, throw it to the curb, and finish the parents' beverages.

2009-10-31T16:18:00.000-07:00

At some point, Finn turned into a little boy. Slowly, the sentences are beginning to form and suddenly our repertoire of interactions grows. It almost seemed as though overnight, he woke up and started reciting the works of Shakespeare.
Last wee, Finn started sleeping in a real bed. No sides. Close to the ground. His own pillows. In an instant of evolution, he recognized the bed as his place and has never hemmed or hawed at sleeping on his own. The real benefit has been the sudden cessation of midnight kicks to the face and, inexplicably, being pushed off the bed. On several occasion s I found myself lodged between the bed and nightstand, hanging precariously above the carpet and unable to pull myself back up without some violent jerk. In the end, I suppose, I always knew he'd grow into a boy and pass off any baby ways. I wasn't aware how quickly it happened.
In his 2-year-old phase, everything receives a "no" response. Are you hungry? "No". What do you want? "Eat". Are you hungry? "No". Do you want to eat? "No". What do you want? "Eat". The terrible twos are more like the truly confusing and let's irritate mom and dad twos. His independence is his own and slowly it evolves stronger and stronger. Soon, I expect he'll be driving himself to daycare and working to buy his own formula.

2009-10-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Picasso started somewhere. I'm not certain it was on the kitchen floor, or that he wore a smock made of his dad's old t-shirt.
Finn has been painting quite a bit lately. Each morning is greeted with a request to paint. The walls of the house are slowly resembling the Met. Or at least a kindergarten classroom.

on the water...

2009-04-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

Finn made his way this past Sunday onto the Deschutes river in a demo Wenonah canoe. While he was confined to the the lilly-dipping seat, he had tremendous difficulty composing himself bathed in the silent splendor of canoeing. A glide interrupted by the shallow and subtle drop of water off the blade.
Like nordic skiing, canoeing swims amongst a heritage of pioneers who sought a balance of existence with nature. Simple travel over varied terrain. Unexpected obstacles that required innovative solutions. The canoe was designed for water, not necessarily for paddling. It just happens to work well with paddling. Flat water. White water. big water. Small water. Carrying gear. Transporting families. Wide, stable, slow. A perfect means when there is no place to be and the river doesn't care.

Ducks and Beavers

2009-04-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

In a state with a shortage of commendable college mascots, Finn has quickly decide upon his team: everything is duck. Which makes things particularly difficult in the presence of any Beaver-Believer.
I have been quite vocal about my lack of fortitude in rooting for a rodent or a Disney character. (Beaver baseball is the only exception.) But, in a state whose economy is diving and no one mentions the possibility for a sales tax, I have no hesitations spending my college loyalty elsewhere.
But fro Finn, who has declared a propensity toward ducks, I can only offer a modicum of support as their colors are green and gold, just as his grandmother's hometown Packers.
But still, Finn will have many layers of loyalty for either the Beavers or Ducks, seeing as they are the mascots of his home-state universities.
At least Eastern Oregon University is the Mountaineers.
Go Bison.

New Photos

2008-10-26T14:22:00.001-07:00

Some new photos of Finn.
The teeth are really starting to poke through. While his bit is a bit lopsided on the bottom, the top teeth are filling in quite nicely.
While not a terrific concern yet, his oral hygiene would make great-grandpa Mac quite proud. Although I suspect he just enjoys sucking down the melon-flavored toothpaste and isn't terribly worried about cavities.

The best sport movies

2008-07-27T10:09:00.003-07:00

Cleaning through a front coat closet, I noticed our collection of DVD's and suddenly remembered perhaps the greatest sports movie there is :When We Were Kings about the ALi/Foreman"Rumble in the Jungle" heavyweight title fight. I started thinking about enhancing our in0house collection of films with necessary additions from the realm of sport movies. Both fiction and documentary. Adding to the collection and rounding out the sports category are a plethora of films that demonstrate the drama and comedy of sports.
But which films? I do not want a closet shelf full of DVD's that are watched once, with only a few memorable lines that never get quoted. Instead, the standard for the sports film must be a film that can be watched over and over because of the emotional response it evokes. Over and over, it is watched in anticipation of the many scenes where the die-hard audience can follow along with the characters' dialogue word for word.

The All-American Road trip

2008-07-27T10:09:00.001-07:00

Of course, it s far too early in Finn's tenure to consider an extended road trip. But I've begun to think about a summer adventure years down the road that would entail travelling across the United states on a good old fashioned road trip. This trip of course would be vastly different in its intention than my "All American Baseball tour", which I will discuss in detail at a later time.

But the "All-American road trip" would focus on experiencing the best in American Culture first hand. In preparation for this trip, I started to consider what places would be essential to visit, such as the Grand Canyon or Mt. Rushmore.
Several considerations for this trip: 1) method of travel; 2) a theme for the trip; and, most importantly, 3)sites to visit.
Each topic will be a separate story. For now, perhaps a discussion of why. Especially at a time when gas prices and our reliance on foreign oil feeds the simple argument against extensive and superfluous travels.
My first response is to defend the All-American road trip as necessary in the determination of self through place. As Americans, it is absolutely necessary to discover as much about this place (the United States) as possible for the ultimate discovery of our individual selves. I could discuss the importance of place, but would rather present the proof post experience. In the end, I would ask for your compliance with my thought that discovery of place is absolutely essential to discovery of self. In that regard, the All-American road trip would serve to build upon any Americans' concept of where they come from and why it is important. To that end, I think any considerations of ecological impact is secondary. we can not understand the why of preserving lace without feeling a connection to the place to preserve.
Enough of the seriousness.
In the end, any road trip should be founded on an ideal of fun. Adventure and discovery serve as the muse, with the American landscape as the canvas.
I will further explore these ideas and build on this idea so that several years down the road, when Finn is old enough, we can embark upon our ultimate All-American Road Trip.

Father Gear? Really?

2008-07-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Found the following at http://www.dadgear.com/gear_main.cfm?ID=4#. Awhile ago I considered writing about the lack of father gear in the baby industry. I wondered about more masculine diaper bags and carriers that were designed for dads and their personal interaction with their babies. Anyways, I came across this Diaper Vest in a local magazine and have reconsidered my stance on the need for father gear. A fleece vest with bigger pockets? Really? Would I be expected to continue wearing the vest long after Finn graduates to big boy pants. It seems its a bit too specific piece of gear, when I can easily carry a few diapers in my courier and some wipes in my pockets. I'm glad I never spoke up earlier about father-baby gear; in the end I have enough fleece vests and messenger bags to use my own gear in my own style.

Diaper Vest™ Wearable Diaper Bag - Orange (L)

DadGear™ introduces the Diaper Vest™ Wearable Diaper Bag. This totally unique idea is the hottest innovation in parenting gear since the diaper bag itself. Our revolutionary twist on the traditional diaper bag sets the standard for our "hands free" line. Combining comfort and style, you can change, feed, and entertain your child with ease and no one will be able to tell you are wearing your diaper bag. We have strategically placed pockets for all of the baby-care essentials that a traditional diaper bag would hold. The Vest is constructed with high quality materials for ultimate durability and longevity. It is better looking than most fleece vests available in sporting goods stores but with specific functionality for carrying all of your essential dad gear!

Features include:

• Quick-access to baby wipes from the right chest zippered pocket.
• Two large pockets on the interior for diapers or other baby gear.
• Two bottle pockets on either side of the vest that lie flat when not in use.
• A slim-design changing pad (included) discretely hidden in a pocket across the lower back.
• A utility pocket on the left chest that contains access through our logo for your cell phone ear piece or MP3 player headphones.
• High quality anti-pill mid weight fleece and durable coil zippers.
• This vest is available in several colors and a jacket style as well.

A New Tradition...

2008-06-18T06:28:00.001-07:00

Finn and I watched the Celtics embarrass the Lakers (suck) last night. Finn made it through the 3rd quarter, summoning up any and all infantile strength to watch the game before falling to sleep despite my whooping, hollering, jumping, and 7-beat "Here we go Celtics. Here we go" (clap, clap) .
I contemplated waking him up to watch history (I know, I know. He's really too young to know what's going on, but I imagine he would build a memory from hearing the story of the Celtics legends.. It's all part of the plan to assure he grows into a Celtics fan.).
In the end, when he becomes a basketball fan he'll want to say he watched as the Celtics posted #17.
Hopefully this will be the start of a period of Celtic pride. I admit to having had a hard time watching the Celtics for years now. Really, they didn't provide much reason to watch. No one enjoys watching less than mediocre talent, unless their children are playing. I duly submit the 90's Red Sox and 80's Packers as testament to my experience as a fan of mediocre teams. It's nice to be on top.
"Here we go Red Sox, Here we go!"( clap clap).

clipped from www.nba.com

Music for Finn

2008-04-24T12:05:00.001-07:00

I pulled out the guitar last week and played some music for Finn. Music being a relative term. Colin Beavan talks in his post about playing music for his daughter and shows a clip of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow". It got me thinking about a ukulele. Fewer strings has got to be easier than a guitar. Perhaps this is the inspiration to finally learn guitar and evolve past off-key chords and sporadic syncopation. Still, my performances will remain purely instrumental. Not that I can't sing; it's just too much to think about while playing.

clipped from noimpactman.typepad.com

What this has to do with saving the planet? It's hard to say. But it says something. Because as F'ed up as we all are, as much as it sometimes seems that we're more destructive than anything else, as few songs as we know, I'm proud to say we all still sing.

Gearing up.

2008-03-28T15:16:00.000-07:00

With opening day upon us, it seems fitting to reflect on the past season and the World Champion Red Sox. Finn is not quite aware of baseball, but give him time. I recently saw the glove of some friends' little boy and I started thinking about buying some gloves (I'll need one as well). Rawlings? Spalding? Is there a brand that stands out over the others? Bats are easy: Louisville was a baseball town before college basketball made it big. But gloves? I'll do some research, try some on, and in the end hopefully have a glove that will last for quite some time. I imagine my glove would simply become Finn's when he got big enough. So long as he's not a southpaw.

Finn's Road Trip

2008-03-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Finn completed his first major road trip, returning from Jamestown, California yesterday with a diaper full of California fruit and a lust for the open road.
Well, as much lust as he could possibly muster. It's difficult to gather any feeling for the travelling road while coursing through the upper Central Valley. The scenery doesn't change much south of Redding. Fields of some crop here. Fields of another crop over there. "Hey Cow."
as little as there is too miss along I-5, Finn managed to miss all of it. Slept right through the olive groves of Woodland. Through the olive groves of Corning. Through Old Sacramento. Through dirty Sacramento. To Stockton, Copperopolis, and Jamestown. Then he awoke at Grandma and Grandpa's just in time to get a dancing & singing chicken from Aunt Ros and Uncle Rich. Mmmmm,Thanks!
Easter's funny like that. What a bunny and chick have in common is beyond me. Other than a distaste for coyotes, tabby cats, and bratty kids with BB guns. Yep, Easter is funny.

The drive took a bit more time than normal. Feeding breaks at rest areas, truck stops, nad fast food restaurants. Life on the open road. What's not to love.

Used to the Puke

2008-02-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

I imagine if a good friend or my wife suddenly emptied the contents of their bloated stomach all over me, I would react without anything short of severe drama and even a possible re-gurgitation of my own. However, as Finn occasionally vomits onto my shoulder, I have to admit the absence of any queasiness, repulsion, or disgust. At some innocuous point of my short career as father, I suddenly became used to vomit. And poop. You just get used to it. I can't explain it in any other manner. I imagine there will be other things I'll adjust to. Perhaps at some point I may get used to cutting Finn's nails. But it seems Amy enjoys that job far to much to relinquish those duties.

The Name

2008-02-02T07:47:00.001-08:00

Finneus Oliver McKeever Peterson.
Definitely a mouthful, but certainly unique and even distinguished.
Finneus simply evolved from the name Finn, which to me always seemed like a nickname. In order to produce a birth certificate without a nickname we considered two options: Finnegan or Finneus. Run "Finnegan Peterson" through your head a few times and you'll understand why we went with Finneus.
Oliver is Amy's grandfather's name.
McKeever is my mother's maiden name and my middle name.
And, well, Peterson was by default.
His initials are FOMP, which despite its onomatopoeia lean, certainly aren't as distinguished as the full name.
I have yet to call out the full moniker, saving that for those moments of needed emphasis. So far he's been "Finn", "Finny", "Finnicky", and "bug".

More Fan Rants

2008-01-20T21:27:00.000-08:00

My good friend Seth has argued that since Finn's grandparents live in New England, then he has a birthright to Patriot's fandom.
I disagree arguing that unless there is a connection with a specific place, there is no right, birth or otherwise, to root for any particular team. One might argue Finn's connection exists vicariously through my own affiliation and devotion to the Northeast region. However, while a devout Red Sox/Celtic/Bruin follower, I have never rooted for the patriots. In that regard, until Finn visits the lush lands of his father's childhood, there's no connection or affilliation with the patriots. He may choose to follow the exploits of the New England's NFL team, but the chips are stacked against any development, since no affinity for the patriots exists in my family. Red Sox, Packers, Celtics, Badgers, Bison, and even the Beavers ( 2 time consecutive National champions!!!).
In the ned, I imagine finn will root for whomever the cheers are loudest. In my house, it's easy to guess what those teams will be. And as long as Finn can defend his choices and those choices are rooted in a deep and sincere connection to a place, I will have no problem with who he cheers for.
So long as it's not the patriots, notre dame, duke, and for God sakes, the Yankees.

On Finn becoming a snowboarder

2007-08-08T07:21:00.001-07:00

What sports teams will Finn root for?

2007-08-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

Red Sox or Giants? Packers or 49ers?
I strongly believe that Finn will follow in my own footsteps and root for the teams that he hears me hollering for. But with much uncertainty, I can foresee a lifetime of arguing about the strongest bullpen aor the best backfield with my son, who will, honorably, cheer on teams that represent his home region.
I root for the Red Sox because I was born in Massachusetts, where red Sox baseball infuses each person like their accent. It is not possible, nor should it be desirable, to explain to a non-Red Sox fan what it was like to endure defeats in the face of greatness. Having won the 2004 world championship, I can't imagine another generation to understand the agony of coming so close only to have the klegs knocked out from underneath you (or at least the ball roll through them).
As a baby, Finn will wear shirts with Red Sox and Packer logos. I'm certain my father may send along a Giants (NFL) jersey. I could understand my affinity for the Packers, but for a long time, I never understood my fathers loyalty to the Giants, and then I realized, he's been a fan FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, B.N.E.P. (Before the New England Patriots). And it makes sense, because the New York football Giants were the regional team for the Northeast for a long time.
And so it beckons the question: how does one choose a team to root for? Instilled at an early age, I would expect regional loyalty or some connection on a deep rooted level to the pace where that team plays.
These thoughts summon a great fear: Finn will inevitably be a Trailblazers fan and I'm not sure any good will come out of that. So in considering places to raise children, parents must consider the teams that their children will be required to root for.
I think Chicago would be the toughest: the White Sox recently won a world Series, which means it'll be another several generations before that town ever understands baseball greatness. Don't need to say anything about the Cubs. As a lifelong Red Sox fan, I can only say that Cubs fans should embrace the ineptness. It's what makes them lovable. One spectacular season can ruin all that. The Bulls, while rising to a respectable level will never live down the legacy of MJ. The Bears are the shining hope for Chicago. A long tradition of excellence. The true representation of mid-west blue collar hard working people. I would move to Chicago to let Finn be a Bears fan, except, as a Packers fan I could not live there with him. Taking him to school would be a little tough.
Perhaps Chicago wouldn't be tough. Portland is tough because you are limited by default to the Trailblazers. The same could be said about Green Bay, except the Packers are like the Bears: a long tradition of excellence, something the Trailblazers are hoping to start in 2025.
Boston, New York, Philly, San Francisco, L.A.: too easy. Each city has too many teams to carry you through the slumps of the others. Bad baseball season, just wait for basketball or football seasons.
If I were to pick one city for Finn to grow as a fan of its sports, I would choose Seattle.
"But there's no winning tradition there!!!" you say.
EXACTLY. No legacies to overcome the shadows of. No pent up frustrations from years of losing big games. A long history of mediocrity.
It is not simple to cheer on teams that have been in the back of a national consciousness, toiling through seasons with exciting play meant only for the loyal. There is a sense of adventure in devoting oneself to a set of teams that have never discovered the glory of a championship. In the process, through a committed devotion, the fan develops a a taut heart string to their place.
It's too easy to be a fan of winning teams. I find it hard to respect fans who follow teams from places that they have no connection and continually do well. Yankee fans who have never lived in the Tri-City area. Boston fans who have never called New England home.
In the end, I think Finn will root for the teams he feels connected to: whether through a loyalty to a parent or grandparent, or as a source of pride about where he comes from.
Or he could be like Amy and always root for offense.

When does the craziness start?

2007-08-03T21:57:00.001-07:00

I expected middle of the night wake up calls for concoctions beyond comprehension. Pickles and ice cream. Tuna fish cake with coconut frosting. Mashed potato's with raisins. At some point I expected a surreal twist in the behavior of my wife which she would conveniently blame on the developing baby. I expected an uncontrollable urge (on her part) to nest, to create a sacred space for the baby that would soothe, comfort and protect.

Instead, we find ourselves rafting, climbing, and mountain biking as normal without the immediate consideration that most of these lifestyle choices are going the way of the Dodo. We aren't fighting or denying the impending presence of another person in our house. Redford probably has a better understanding than anyone. (I wonder if he was given away after the birth of a baby.)
We don't have any books piled up on our coffee table, nightstand, or toilet. I spotted a magazine for expecting mothers the other day. I just can't recall where it is. I certainly never read it, but I'm sure Amy perused it for relevant articles.
And so this will be our place to collect our thoughts and share our experiences for family and friends. Who know if it will become anything.