Walking the dog

No...this wasn't staged. 

Desmond has GREAT taste in movies

My folks will appreciate this.  I've probably seen the Three Amigos more times than any other movie, save maybe Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 


Desi and the Three Amigos from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

He was cracking up even harder when we watched this scene the first time through.  This is about the 3rd so I could get the video. 

I'm tall!

I'm tall! from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Some random pics

There's been a lot happening this summer, but I haven't been good at posting.  Here are some pics from the last few months.

Blue Angels

Our friends, the Herrings (Mark, Meghan, Mitch and Matilda) invited us out to Seafair with them to watch the Blue Angels. 

Mitch, Meghan, Matilda and Mesmond...I mean, Desmond. Sorry.

Lunch Time

(sorry for the smudge...I didn't notice it was on the lense until halfway through the day)

Desi was pretty crabby and pouty.  Until he got his very own Boeing 797 Dreamliner to play with.  Then, he was all smiles. 

When the planes came, he wasn't paying attention.  He was playing with one of his toys.  They planes drew his attention by turning on their afterburners.  The sounds freaked him out and he ran over to me crying.  So, he sat in my lap and I covered his ears.  After that, he got a kick out of them, pointing and saying "Airplane" over and over.  Until, that is, he got too excited about them and left my lap to dance a bit as they played Highway to the Danger Zone.  The next pass, complete with very very loud jet plane sound, sent him screaming back to my lap.

Italian Ice

Dancing before the realizing that it's gonna get loud, again.

After the show...

 

Random Summer pics

Here's just some other pics from our summer.

Playing stairball with Daddy and Quincy

I know this is a bad picture, but I crack up at the glowing eyes and command over Quincy.

Not fully convinced that our new wading pool is fun.

Still skeptical.  Even though Duncan is clearly enjoying it.

Convincing our neighbor Charlie to vote Republican.

Story time with Mommy.

Watermelon with neighbor friend, Dylan.

That's all!

Why?

This is the new question.

Why?

Why is it time to go to bed?

Why is it time to take a bath?

Why do I have to leave my toy here?

Why does Daddy have to go to work?

Why is the mailman?

Pretty much everything we say to Desi...he responds with "Why?"

I don't think he really knows what he's saying.  I mean, his grasp on the English language is still very far from perfect (for instance, he says Pee-Mad-Ow for piano).  But, it's still pretty funny and cute. 

Here's a conversation from the other morning:

Me: "Desi, it's time to go to go to school."

Desi: "Why?"

Me: "Because Daddy needs to go to work."

Desi: "Why?"

Me: "Because I need to make money."

Desi: "Why?"

Me: "Because I owe money to the man."

Desi: "Why?" 

Me: "Because I wasted it all on cheap booze and women."

Desi: "Why?"

Me:  "Because I was tempted by the devil."

Desi: "Why?"

Me: "Why do you ask soo many questions?"

Desi: "Cookie."

We'll see how this conversation looks in a couple years.

Okay, fine!

Here are some pics taken from the "Pirate Landing" which is little more than a bunch of old men playing dress up and kicking off Seattle's annual Sea Fair.

Holy crap

Has it really been almost a month since I last posted?  I have to get on that.  I have a ton of pics.  I'll try to get some up, soon. 

Happy Father's Day

To all the Dads out there, especially my dad and my Grandpas...Happy Father's Day, last Sunday (started this post then...finishing it late)! 

Here are some pics from the 2nd annual Father's Day Baseball game.  Not sure what we're going to do when the Mariners are out of town on Father's Day.  Might have to travel.

We went with Desi's friend Duncan and his parents, Kevin and Andie.  Here are some photos.

Desmond and Duncan shared a seat.

Dad's chillin' with our boys.  Judging from our sweaters/coats, it was pouring outside.

With the Moose. Desi loves the Moose.

We popped into the Team Store. Des tried to hide in the clothing racks.

The Reed Fam

The after effects.  

A selection of words

Words from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

For those that aren't aware...Dupa (sp) is Polish for butt. 

Tackle Time

This went on for about 30 minutes.

Pardon the exposed diaper.  Desi just got off the potty.  If the tackling hadn't interupted, we would have taken him up to change into jammies. 

Also pardon the mess.  No excuse for that...but, it's my house so back off!
Note...after each tackle, he is putting his hand out to help me up...just to knock me down, again.


Tacklin' from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.

Darn that Daycare...again

I've mentioned before that Desi has a lot of words.  Some are clear, some are not.  We're still learning some of his words as he learns some of ours.

We discovered a new word of his, the other day.  It's a word we haven't taught him.

He was being whiney (what's new?) and Shaundar was holding him.  He started saying something over and over, again.  It sounded like "Tootoo row" or something.  Shaundar, being the ever insightful person that she is, stops and asks me, "Do you know what he's saying?" 

I have no clue. 

She motions to the kitchen counter.  On the counter lies a Tootsie Roll.  It's left over from Easter.  Desi was saying Tootsie Roll.

Now...I can say with almost absolute certainty that Desmond has never had a Tootsie Roll in this house.  I've never given him one and I am sure, as she is 100x more anal than me, that Shaundar hasn't either. 

That leaves daycare.  Of course, it could be Aunt Kelley or one of the PEPS parents that have babysat him over time.  But, I have a feeling that picking up "Tootsie Roll" would have to involve more repetition that a night or 2 of babysitting. 

Fantastic.

Photo from fellow PEPS dad

Our friend and fellow PEPS parent, Chris, snapped this at our weekly meeting.

FOT post

Just had a post published at Fistful of Talent that I'm enjoying.  Yes, I readily admit that I am a big nerd.

Here's the link: http://www.fistfuloftalent.com/2010/05/draft-everything-i-need-to-know-about-candidate-experience-i-learned-from-lost.html

Here's the post:

Monday, May 24, 2010


Everything I Need to Know About Poor Candidate Experience I Learned from LOST

Chances are, either you or someone you know is a fan of LOST. Actually...maybe this isn't true. Because if you are not a fan of LOST, I don't know why your LOST-loving friend would still associate with you.

Regardless...even if you are not a fan, you probably heard that last night we witnessed the LOST series finale. After 6 years, 121 hours, multiple dead cast members, 2 god-like beings and 1 huge mess of unanswered questions, the worst candidate experience on TV is over.

Let's take a look at the recruiting tactics that would make any company, even the Hanso Foundation, cringe.
It takes until Season 3 before we even hear the name of the LOST isle recruiter. His name is Jacob, and he's clearly a headhunter. He easily tracks down a bunch of passive candidates. Candidates who A) have never heard of the place he's recruiting for, B) are not currently looking for a job, and C) meet all of the basic qualifications. Of course, maybe I'm giving Jacob too much credit. The basic qualifications for this role aren't too niche. "Must be lonely and confused. Preferred candidates will also come with Daddy issues."

I'm not sure that Jacob is the most productive headhunter though. I mean, over the course of almost 2000 years, he is only able to come up with approximately 360 names. If I were his client, I would have ended this relationship 1500 years ago. However, Jacob is great at getting prospects on the phone and getting them interested in opportunities. Of course, by "getting them on the phone," what I mean is crashing their plane on the island.

Jacob's interview process has to be one of the most discouraging in history. First of all, these candidates have no clue they're even interviewing until season 6. Or...the final interview with the big wig. They're not prepped and there is no opportunity for the candidates to interview Jacob; where's the relationship building, here?

Second, they're never asked a single question. Granted, it may be hard to come up with behavioral interview questions around possible scenarios. "Tell me about a time you were charged by a hungry polar bear," or "Describe for me a time when you started bouncing around the space-time continuum," probably won't come with legitimate real-world answers. But, at least throw some hypotheticals at them. I think there are a ton of answers that could be given to, "How would you handle a situation involving a smoke monster and a sonic fence?"

Finally, let's talk about feedback. For candidates who aren't hired for any job, feedback is a big part of what caps off their experience. Jacob was not big on feedback. For the few who had any idea they were being considered for Jacob's role, he just left them hanging after the selection was made. Of course, most of the candidates were dead by the time the position was filled, so maybe it didn't matter so much to them. However, there was one person who did receive feedback. Kate specifically asked Jacob why she wasn't chosen. Jacob, who apparently hasn't taken a single HR course in his life, told her, "Because you became a mother." Someone call the EEOC!

So, all in all, I think it's clear that recruiter Jacob is the world's worst staffing professional. My guess is that he learned from a terrible mentor. Probably some 3000 year old wench from Egypt or something. But from his missteps, we can walk away with these lessons: maintain open communication, answer questions openly and honestly, follow up with feedback, and don't tick off a giant pillar of black smoke.
Gonna miss the show. What am I to do on Tuesday nights now?

Editor's Note - Jason Pankow is a Senior Recruiter for Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE and Xbox Software groups. Jason supports the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, bringing in technical, as well as creative, talent to Redmond. Look him up on Xbox Live, where he'll ring you up for a triple-double as Steve Nash on NBA 2K8 or kick it old-school via a 7-digit score on Galaga...

Words and Food

Desi has a ton of words, now.  However, he doesn't really know how to end most of them.

For example: Milk is Muh.  Kitty is Key.  I love you is I Loo, or something.

However, the other day, he amazed us by completing one of his words.  The conversation went something like this:

Daddy: "Finish your dinner, Desi."

Desi: "Ah-Da" (translation: All Done).

Daddy: "Have another bite"

Desi: "Coo-Coo" (translation: Cookie)

Daddy: "Uh-uh...have another bite"

Desi, louder this time: "Coo-Coo!"

Daddy: "One more bite and they I will contemplate maybe giving you a cookie."

Desi, angry, now: "COOKIE!"

Daddy and Mommy - *silence*

Desi: "COOKIE!!!!!!!  COOKIE!!!!!! *cry, cry cry* COOKIE!!!!"

So, anyway.  That's that story.   

Prepping to be a Zag

Gotta practice if he wants to make the Gonzaga basketball team.


Ballin' from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.