it's an honor to just be nominated...

Yeah right! I just found out that this little blog is in the running for the Parent's Picks 2009 best local blog in Las Vegas at Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect. I totally want to win this thing. I hardly ever win anything. 

Of course, I need your help to do it!

Please visit the link and vote. You can vote every day if you want. Voting runs until July 15 and the winners will be announced on August 15.

Featuring the tagline "We're not perfect, we're parents," Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect celebrates the reality of parenthood and make parents' lives easier. Geared towards parents with kids of all ages, from newborns to teens, the site offers unique features like local events and resources; personalized profiles that help parents connect with each other; daily tips for all ages and stages; expert parenting advice; a weekly meal-planner for quick and healthy meals; and guest celebrity editorials. Each age-related section on the site provides users with daily content to help them through both large and small parenting challenges.

Now go VOTE!!!!

a special birthday video

Obviously our friend Drew has mad skillz. He put together this video of Z-Dub's birthday party last weekend at Bounce U. It's amazing. It makes me smile.



Thanks Drew. You're the man!!!

the camera loves him, and so do the girls

Much like Mr. Lady's beautiful daughter, 3of3, Z-Dub had an opportunity to model some threads for RedSparks.com, the Web site where you'll find clothing and accessories for the cool kids. Of course, the camera loving Z-Dub had a blast taking photos, and I think I had equal fun taking them. It was great, creative, father-son bonding time.

We explored gritty downtown Las Vegas on Saturday for an urban backdrop amongst the homeless, hookers and drug dealers. I know, a little too urban for kids clothing, but I thought it was a good environment. Please don't call CPS. On Sunday we went a little more wholesome with photos at the upscale District at Green Valley Ranch, a park and our neighborhood. We literally took more than 200 photos and I don't know which RedSparks.com will be using, but here are a few unedited shots for your viewing pleasure.

The urban collection:

The wholesome boy:

By the way, the shirt and pants provided to Z-Dub for the photos were really cool. He really, really liked them. In fact, on Sunday night he had a bit of a tantrum when we tried to remove them for shower time.

undeserving, but appreciative

Offering proof that I'm undeserving of it, DCUrbanDad awarded me this award a week ago today and it's taken me until now to even mention it. What a horrible blogger friend I am. Seriously.

The award is supposed to show that I transmit cultural, literal, ethical and personal values every day. Whether I actually adhere to these standards is for you to decide. Regardless, I do want to extend my gratitude to DCUrbanDad for the honor bestowed upon me.

Now, as a rule, I'm supposed to award 15 other bloggers with the same award. Some of these folks may have already received it from others, but it's probably because they are very deserving.

Here they are:

Fear and Parenting in Las Vegas
Tao of Gini
Jogging in Circles
The Weirdgirl
Zoe's Dad
The Playpen
Spain Dad, A Baby Blog
Oh My God, I'm A Daddy!
Luke, I Am Your Father
Honea Express
Daddy Dan
Building Camelot
A Family Runs Through It
Dad Thing
Written, Inc.

Wow, 15 is a lot!

travel blog network debuts

Today the folks at UpTake issued a press release officially announcing their Travel Blog Network writing team, which includes me. I can see the paparazzi gathering outside my window. I hope they don't take any unflattering photos.

But seriously, I've had a blast writing for UpTake for the past couple of months under the Vacations category, along with a talented team of writers led by the super blogger Whit. We're writing all about great (and sometimes not-so-great) vacation destinations in this big and diverse country of ours, offering information about where to go, what to do and where to stay from our own perspectives. Because we're writing about the areas in which we live, work and play, our insight is great for folks planning a trip, especially to a destinations they've never been to before. I'm covering the Las Vegas area for obvious reasons. I like to show that there is more to Southern Nevada than casinos, nightclubs, celebretards, hookers and blow. Although we all know that those things are appealing to a lot of people.

Here's some of my posts from the past couple of months. I plan to write many, many more, so subscribe to the RSS feed and enjoy.

Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City
Family Fun at Lake Mead Recreation Area
Las Vegas - A New Year's Party Destination
Lake Las Vegas Offers Tranquility
Holiday Shopping in Las Vegas
Experience the French Flair of Las Vegas
Boulder City, Nevada - History and Adventure
Las Vegas Aquariums Showcase Exotic Marine Life
Celebrate Veteran's Day at Aviation Nation
Explore the Natural Side of Vegas

For my Vegas friends, if you have any cool, undiscovered vacation ideas I should cover, let me know.

wordless wednesday...but not really

Z-Dub Sings from VegasDad on Vimeo.

garbage can bandit strikes

This morning Las Vegas law enforcement authorities revealed that a local celebrity has fallen victim to the Garbage Can Bandit. The still unknown perpetrator has wreaked havoc on local neighborhoods over the past few weeks, which has local residents fearing for their sanitation.

According to Detective Herman Odorwitz, chief investigator with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Priority Victims Division, the incident took place Saturday when blogger VegasDad placed his garbage receptacle on the curb in front of his estate. Later, when he returned to retrieve it, the receptacle was nowhere to be found. Sensing something amiss, VegasDad immediately contacted police.

“That [expletive] bandit stole my [expletive] trash can. I just can’t believe the bandit would strike in my neighborhood. It's in the hills. What the [expletive]?” said a bewildered VegasDad in newly released 911 transcripts. “Now I have no idea where I’m going to discard my [expletive] uneaten caviar and empty Starbucks cups.”

According to an unidentified witness, it appeared that VegasDad was targeted because of his celebrity. However, Odorwitz says that claim appears to be unsubstantiated at this point in the investigation.

“We’ve gotten a lot of calls on our special tip line and we’re following up on every lead,” said Odorwitz. “We urge anyone who saw or knows anything about this heinous crime to call in. We can use the help.”

Odorwitz also made a plea to the local community to avoid VegasDad's neighborhood. Since reports of the theft have been made public throngs of onlookers have converged in the area to catch a glimpse of the celebrity victim.

"We need to respect VegasDad's and his family's privacy as they cope with their loss," said Odorwitz. "There are paparazzi and groupies all over the place today, which is creating a driving hazard and disrupting the neighbors."

A Z-list celebrity, VegasDad rose to fame a three years ago when he made his mark in the blogging world by exploiting his family. His first blog, rothfamilyadventures.com, was canceled in May 2008. The following month, the resilient blogger was cast in ivegasfamily.com where he has received critical acclaim.

Rumors of impending book, movie and television deals inked by the star have been making headlines in gossip magazines over the past few months. There’s no word yet on how Saturday’s tragedy will impact his future projects.

dream job at last

I woke up this morning to find that my dream job  is finally available. I shall apply immediately. I hope I get an interview.

I wonder if I can bring the family?

if this blogs a rockin'...

I was pleased to learn this morning that this humble blog rocks. That is according to the exceptionally talented and very observant blog connoisseur DC Urban Dad. Though his blog is certainly worthy of such a rockin' distinction, I always thought perhaps my blog doo wopped or even bee bopped, but never did I ever think it actually rocked. Apparently I was completely wrong.

Sound the guitar riffs and drum solos. MY BLOG ROCKS BITCHES!!!!

I should also mention that he also loves this blog. Yeah, I know what you're thinking...kinda gay. But I'm a tolerant fellow. Love is love, right? I consider it kind of brotherly. Like in Philly.

I greatly appreciate all of the accolades from DC Urban Dad and anyone who actually stops by each day and reads. It's very encouraging. Therefore, I'm going to share it with a few blogs that I think rock:

Xbox4NappyRash

Honea Express

Daddy Dan

Whisky In My Sippy Cup

Jogging in Circles

Rock on people!

I'll even go so far as to say "I Love Your Blogs" too.

seein' stars

I know in writing this I'm going appear as though I'm bragging. But guess what? I don't care. Why? Because I'm so frickin' excited.

On Monday night HotMomma and I will be hobnobbing with stars of sports and entertainment at the Greg Maddux Celebrity Dinner at the Venetian. It's being held in conjunction with the Greg Maddux Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament happening here in Las Vegas on Sunday through Tuesday.*

The best part of it is we don't have to pay the $2,500 per person ticket price. Yep, it cost that much. Could you imagine spending $5,000 for dinner? We got a special comped invitation.

*I wonder how Mr. Maddux would have juggled this event and work if the Dodgers had made it to the World Series. I guess we'll never know.

superstar

Look out Hollyweird, here I come!

Today I'm taping a public service announcement. Not for Gonorrhea or anything like that. Actually it's for a fundraising golf tournament. We're taping it on the actual golf course. Me co-starring in the 30-second commercial is actually kind of funny because I don't golf. I've taken lessons, but I've never actually played a round of golf on a course. I'll definitely be using my acting skills for this one.

If you're in Las Vegas starting next week you may randomly see my ugly mug on a COX Cable station.

going platinum

I clinched the microphone tightly in my hand as sweat began to accumulate on my brow. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered uncontrollably. I focused on the eyes staring back at me. "Don't crack, you can do this," I thought. "Think of them as cardboard cutouts. They're not real people."

The music began and I cleared my throat one last time.

The words began to pour out of my mouth.

"Honey why you calling me so late?
It's kinda hard to talk right now.
Honey why are you crying? Is everything okay?
I gotta whisper 'cause I can't be too loud..."

The crowd cheered and the nervousness faded.

There's been a concert in our house all weekend. The living room is the stage, the flat panel television the high-def stage backdrop and the family as the audience. And everyone is a star. Some shining brighter than others, but all stars nonetheless.

This weekend we purchased American Idol Encore for the Wii. It's been music and mayhem ever since as we all try to one-up each other to impress a virtual Randy, Paula and Simon. I'm completely tone deaf and was a reluctant contestant, but I still managed to please the judges with one song. It was Hinder's Lips of an Angel. Simon thought it was brilliant. Randy thought it was "cool dawg." Paula was like the real Paula. Her comments were jibberish.

Despite my grammy worthy performance, the surprise star was our teenage nephew who was visiting over the long holiday weekend. Even with a cracking voice, he wowed the judges and scored exceptionally high with every song he sang. He was amazing.

I hope I can take him down in a final round to be your next American Idol. Then you all have to buy my album.

VegasDad out!

wouldn't you like to know?

Recently, Dan at DaddyDan.net contacted me to participate for his new Daddy Dan Interviews with mommy and daddy bloggers. And not being one to pass up an opportunity to talk about myself, I enthusiastically let loose and revealed a great deal about myself and family. The result was posted last night. Check it out. You may be wowed, amused or offended by my twisted psyche. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy.

And, thanks Dan!

------------------------------------

In other news, I woke up late this morning after hitting the snooze button not once, but three times. It's also the first day of school in Las Vegas so traffic was a bitch. Finally, I couldn't find my security badge for work, so when I arrived I had to wait for a co-worker to let me in the building.

Yep, it's definitely Monday.

------------------------------------

Updated at 8:40 a.m. - I just found out that somebody nominated me for the Hot Blogger Calendar!?!

I'm hot!?!

Only by being baked in the scortching Las Vegas sun!

I guess it's not such a bad Monday afterall. Since I'm nominated, if you'd like to vote for me, follow the link.



Here's me, along with HotMomma (now, she's hot!).











And, here's the link.

feeling blogger love

I'd like to extend a special thank you to Kim at Jogging in Circles for showing some blogger love. She has kindly awarded me, along with six other deserving dads, this cool award:

This is my second award in a week. You all better be careful. I might take this all too serious and develop delusions of grandier.

Of course, as with most blog awards, I'm encouraged to pass this award along to seven other worthy peers. This is always tough as there are so many talented bloggers out there that entertain me each and every day. Many I aspire to be like someday.

Off the top of my head, I'm going to pass this award onto:

Tyler at Building Camelot
Darren at Clare's Dad
Marge at Fear & Parenting in Las Vegas
James at Luke, I am Your Father
Gregory at NooDad
Farrell at Nothing Gained, Nothing Lost
William at Poop and Boogies

Ye all awardeth!

kickin' ass

Thanks to DC Urban Dad, I'm a "Kick Ass Blogger." While it's probably a bit of a stretch, I do appreciate the acknowledgement of my kick assness. I'm also very thankful this honor came today because, frankly, I was struggling to think of something to write about. It's Friday and my brain isn't functioning well. It's probably because of all the cocktails and wine consumed at last night's culinary event.

I'm very proud to be joining an elite team of kick ass bloggers (James, Mama Nuggle, Sarah and Whit.) Together we're very much like the Furious Five (from Kung Fu Panda). Our job is to kick ass and eliminate the mundane. I hope we succeed. The big question is who will earn the title of "Dragon Warrior?" Personally, I think it's Whit.

As is customary, now I must bestow the distinguished honor of being a Kick Ass Blogger to five worthy peers. After long and mind-numbing mental deliberation, I choose the following:

PG from Annoyingly Boring?

Jared from DadThing

Dan from Daddy Dan

Jim from The Busy Dad Blog

The Weird Girl

It was actually really hard to choose just five as all of the blogs I read kick ass. They were all very deserving.

iron chef z-dub

Perhaps our regular viewing of Iron Chef America is doing more than just entertaining the family. It may be fostering a future culinary genius who will make millions of dollars by creating gastronomical flavors the world has yet to taste. Yes, Z-Dub has suddenly shown an interest in cooking. Batali, Cora, Morimoto, Flay and Symon are going to have some tough competition in Kitchen Stadium, especially if the secret ingredient is yogurt, edamame, spinach (Z-Dub calls it "leaves") or cheese.

When meals are being prepared he wants nothing other than to help. And lately, during the evening when he normally enjoys television or playing with his cars or animals, he instead raids the food pantry and kitchen cabinets, pulling out staple ingredients, such as rice, and pots and pans while proclaiming, "Daddy, I cook." Any suggestion otherwise produces a typical toddler tantrum.

As parents that enjoy fine foods, of course we'd love it if Z-Dub became a world famous chef. Therefore we're going to encourage him to pursue his new epicurean interest. Because of gender bias, back in the day this type of thing would have been frowned upon. But try telling Chef Gordon Ramsay it's a girly thing and he'll tell you to "f*ck off!" That's why I'm not worried that HotMomma wants to buy Z-Dub a kitchen set to help him hone his skills. It'll prepare him for when he's a little older and we sign him up for children's cooking classes.

Perhaps someday he'll attend one of the world's elite culinary schools. I wonder if there are scholarships for such places. I'll have to do a little research. After he's done with school he can complete an apprenticeship under one of the world's most celebrated chefs. Later he can branch off on his own and receive critical acclaim from reviewers with the most discerning palates. He'll open restaurants, land book deals and have his own television programs on Food TV Nework. I can't wait.

Hey, one can dream!

In the meantime, tonight HotMomma and I are off to a special fundraising dinner at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas. It's called Chefs, Wine & Spirits Too! We went last year and the food and drinks were spectacular. HotMomma is a little bummed though. At six months pregnant, she can't drink like she did last year.

lost...

Last night I had a brilliant idea in my head about what I was going to write today. Unfortunately, I don't remember what it was. This happens often. If I don't write it down right away it gets lost somewhere in the deep confines of my seemingly malfunctioning brain. Perhaps I've run out of room in there. Too much time absorbing the words of other bloggers, fatherhood and work stuff, of course, have taken their toll.

After suddenly coming up with this idea, whatever it was, we went for a family walk around the neighborhood, showered Z-Dub, played a little, read some kiddie books, tucked Z-Dub in for the night, watched The Closer and finally capped the evening off with some local news. Sometime during this three hour time frame the idea got misplaced.

I certainly hope the idea will resurface soon. I'd hate to miss out in sharing what potentially could be an award-winning post. Perhaps it would have been so extraordinary that it'd propel me into blog stardom, resulting in book, television and movie deals. Wishful thinking I suppose. One can dream.

special thanks

I'd like to extend a special thanks to Jeremy from Discovering Dad for mentioning this blog during his insightful interview by Soapbox Mom on Soapbox Radio today. Check it out.