Okay, so this dad posts a video commentary on YouTube railing against some complaining his 15-year-old daughter threw (behind his back) on Facebook for everyone else in the world to see. Then, he takes out a .45 and exacts retribution on her laptop with extreme prejudice. Some say he's insane; some say he's a dad who should be applauded for explaining to the little chick how the big bad world operates. I think I'm not posting this blog commentary on Facebook. I've only got a .380, and I do not want this guy mad at me.

If you haven't seen this yet. Watch it below. If you are still able to read when the social video essay is complete, scroll down and read some additional Eric thoughts. True wisdom is further down the page; you will want to read on. Just saying. Now, here's the video.

And now for the good part. Yes, it gets better.

I have two darling daughters. I try not to overly complicate their lives, but I want them to grow up understanding that they are, in fact, NOT entitled to whatever they want simply because they want it. I had it good growing up. I had some chores, but I had it really easy. I did get a job in high school. I learned first-hand what it was like to be responsible for school, homework, work, and housework. Social life? If there was time. So I applaud these parents for teaching their daughter that life is about effort, not entitlement.

And now the "however." Is it a good idea to publicly humiliate your kid just to get a point across? Step back a sec. Is it ever "right" for a parent to purposefully cause public humiliation for their children? It's rhetorical. I don't know the answer. I do think allowing 3 million views (as of 2/10/2012) on YouTube is a bit ridiculous though. If the point was to help your kid understand respect for her parents, allowing her childish immaturity to be broadcast to (at least) 3 million people is harsh at least and cruel at worst. 

When this went viral, dad should have taken the video down. There's no need to make a spectacle out of your kid. Did she deserve the "tough love?" Sure, no question. But is this really "tough love" anymore, or are we approaching self-stardom here? I'm leaning toward the latter. But don't you think for one second I'm telling that to this guy's face (or on my Facebook page).

Hey kids, just because your dad wears a Stetson and smokes cancer candy, that doesn't mean he is completely retarded - especially when he works in the IT sector. I'm sorry kids, dads are pretty crafty animals. Act right, do what you're told, and remember, we just want you to be able to survive once we can't take care of you anymore - at least that's what motivates the good ones.

Good night, and good luck!

So I went to my first school event as a parent. What a different perspective!

Harper's school did their Thanksgiving event yesterday, and it was one of the most adorable things I've seen in a while. All these kids were dressed as little pilgrims and indians. Of course, no one in Harper's class wanted to be a pilgrim, so they were all indians. The kids made their own outfits, so it was all the more adorable. 

I made a quick video slideshow of the event for those of you that I'm related to. And no, there is not supposed to be any music. (Don't email me and tell me you couldn't hear anything. Yeah, you know who you are.) Happy Thanksgiving!

What's better than a 10-hour car ride with a 3-year-old and a 19-month old to visit your in-laws? Well nothing, obviously. [...] Oh, sorry. I'm back. Got hit by lightning there. No more lies, I promise. No, but really, it wasn't as bad as you might think. I actually had a good time. I ate entirely too much and was sadly reminded how much I love and miss Chattanooga, but, on the whole, we're calling it a win.

We left after Harper got out of school on a Thursday and drove to Atlanta to have dinner with a buddy. By about 9PM we made it to Chattanooga to spend the first night with my aunt and uncle. Penelope played the piano for the entirety of the next morning.

We ate well, as to be expected when you hang out with Aunt Brenda, and then we traveled to Nashville to meet Vickie the mother-in-law for some lunch.

With Harper's brithday fast approaching, we had to do some family shopping at the local Toys-R-Us ("where Eric can be a kid"). I found lots of stuff for me, but Jennilyn said we couldn't buy it. I pouted a little, but straightened up when she told me I couldn't have ice cream later if I was bad at the store.

Penelope found this little number while Harper rode around the entire store on the bike she eventually wound up with.

We spent two days in/near Jennilyn's hometown and had an awesome bonfire and weenie roast at her family farm as an early birthday party for Harper. My two kids played harder in those two days than I've seen them play in weeks at home. They had a great time playing with cousins they rarely get to see. 

Harper really enjoyed her awesome dinner. She was fascinated that Daddy managed to cook her food on a stick over a fire. Oh yeah, Daddy is a cavemen. Watch out!

Ultimately though, tiredness overtook poor Penelope, who fell asleep, yes, fell asleep, leaning over a cooler.

She had a juicebox in her hand. As she would drift off and lose her grip of the box, she would jump a bit and grab it tightly. Poor little thing was all tuckered out.

It was awesome getting to see family again that we usually only get to see about once a year. The girls had a good time, and Jennilyn was excited to walk her old stomping grounds and force me to eat at her favorite restaurants. (Are you noticing that food continues to be a major theme of the trip?)

We had a great, safe trip. That said, my head was really happy to lay down on my pillow, and my body was thrilled to sink into my bed. Gotta start ramping up for next year's trip.

Trip Totals:
Distance: 1,221 miles 
Travel Time: 20 hours 51 minutes

So I have this beautiful face. Everyone is familiar with it. Sometimes hair grows on it, and sometimes I get it tamed. Other times I let it grow freely, like a little self-contained hippie commune on my face. My lovely wife likes to be (purposefully) ambiguous over her feelings for the face monster, but she only seems really concerned when I shave it off into her clean sinks. Therefore, I generally shave outside. (Gotta keep the peace if you want food to eat.)

I was up until 2AM this morning. I would like to say I was being a productive member of society, growing the U.S. economy, and providing important things for my family. I would like to say it, but honestly, I can't. I was playing a computer game. Deal with it. Anyway, I slept well, but woke up to the cruel reminder that (1) I had to take Harper to school, and (2) I had to record video at work today. All that would have been fine if I hadn't woken up at 7:25AM - just a few minutes from when I want to be leaving in the morning.

I looked at the creature on my face, we said our goodbyes, and I retrieved the trimmer. Alarmingly, the battery was dead, and I have the one trimmer ever created by infernal man that won't let you just use it on AC power. I knew what needed to be done. I feared it, but I knew. I took up my trusty manual razor, I changed the blade, and I lathered my face Santa-Claus-thick in shaving cream. I knew this was going to be terrible, but I was not prepared for the true awful reality.

First pass - grabbed a chunk of fur, yanked it and attached face flesh into razor, razor devoured all it came in contact with. I made a noise. It was quite - if you're deaf. I developed a new plan.

Revised plan, first pass - like hot knife through butter. Amazingly, you can actually shave in both directions using a simple back and forth motion. Who knew? Like an emaciated zombie cow my Mach 3 trimmed, cut, and, in fact, shaved my face like a boss. 

Freshly made smooth like the baby bottom, I surveyed the damage in the sink below. It was bad, no lie. I commenced to rinsing, herding, and forcibly removing at gunpoint any little hair people that otherwise refused to leave the sink bowl for that water reclamation plant in the sky. I shaved, I overcame, and I cleaned up. Fresh off of this victory, I hurriedly completed the remainder of my morning tasks before leaving the house. I even remembered to take Harper with me so I could drop her off at school. Win.

Other than having "ouch-I-hurt-face" all day today, it's gone swell. Did a great video filming, ate good food, and now, it's time for some R&R, sans face forest, of course.