Scott Nagele's Blog, page 13

We’re not sure how birds or bees fit into the story

Buster has developed quite a curiosity these days. Formerly, the pinnacle of his curiosity was wanting to know where I had hidden the Tootsie Rolls. Now, he has blossomed into a regular preschool philosopher, wondering things like: “How do clouds get up in the sky?” Wondering about clouds is, of course, a slippery slope leading […]

For Mommy

I asked Buster, “What should we get Mommy for Mother’s Day?” “Probably something she likes,” was his reasoned reply. “What do you think she would like?” “I don’t know. Maybe you should ask her what she likes and then buy it for her.” When it comes to thoughtful gift giving, Buster is a chip right […]

Give a blog some credit

It’s not uncommon for the average blogger to wonder if a post is worthy of being published, or if the blog itself is Internet-worthy. Is it click-worthy, reader-worthy, subscriber-worthy? There are no documents sent to a blog from any supervising authority to prove its content is worthy. A blogger might never know for sure. Thanks […]

Misinformed tree brings thorns to chainsaw fight

We have this annoying tree near the corner of our house. I think it might be a Hawthorn Tree, but I don’t know for sure. What I do know is this tree is trying to take over the world, or at least our back yard, which is a good part of the world to us. […]

The affection police are coming to hug you away

Some things from your youth flow into becoming part of the family culture you build with your children. From earliest childhood I was taught to stay out of the way. Doctors have their “first do no harm” principle and farm kids have their “first get out of the way” maxim. You don’t have to be […]

There’s a Take Your Child to Work Day that has nothing to do with the babysitter not showing up

According to the posters on the walls at work, April 27 is Take Your Child to Work Day. I guess it’s nice there’s an official day for this, but I celebrate my own Take Your Child/Children to Work Days. This is what it’s called when both parents need to be at work and there is […]

If young animals whined like human children

Zebra Mom: “Eat your grass, Jimmy.” Zebra Kid: “I don’t like this grass. I like that grass over there.” Zebra Mom: “There’s a lion over there.” Zebra Kid: “Can you ask him to move.” Zebra Mom: “No. I’m not asking a lion to move so you can have grass that’s exactly the same as this […]

In a perfect world every child would get their own cow eyeball

Who doesn’t love neuroscience? For a couple of hours, every spring, we can’t imagine anyone not having fun with brain studies. These are the hours we spend at our university’s annual neuroscience fair. The boys get to see some fun exhibits and collect a little free swag. I get to revisit my theory about the […]

Meeting Robert E. Lee

When I was in 1st grade, I got up at 4:30 every morning. I put on my barn clothes, and after a quick bowl of Cream of Wheat, went off to milk cows with my parents. My teacher was also my neighbor, so when I put my head on my desk in the afternoon for […]

Nothing says Winter like some long Summer days

It’s mid-March. That means a few noteworthy things. Skunk mating season is winding down. If you don’t live in North America, this may not mean much to you. If you do live in North America, this may not mean much to you. If you live in the piece of North America where my house sits, […]