Another Generation of Giving Big

I'm so proud of Gwen! If you've read Anna Marie's blog, you will know already that she's potty trained! I've always been rather advanced with my bodily functions, so I'm pretty sure she gets her intelligence from me.

Gwen has also learned another great trait from me: Giving Big. Those that know me well understand that I have a sensitive gag reflex when it comes to bodily functions. Changing diapers is no picnic, but I've gotten somewhat used to it. But, one thing that I can't stand the thought of is cleaning the poop out of Gwen's little potty. I watched Anna Marie do this once and it just seemed to smear everywhere. I had to leave the room. Since then, Gwen has been kind enough to only poop when I'm not home. This has left Anna Marie with the sole responsibility of doing the clean up. Gwen is so thoughtful. I really owe her one on this one.

Gwen has also been sweet enough to demand that mom take a photo of every poop she does to show me when I get home. Although I don't like cleaning poop, I love looking at poop. What a treat it is to come home, knowing that there will be a new poo photo waiting for me. I'm telling you, it's karma- when you give big, it comes back to you.

Anna Marie mentioned to me that she has gotten a few requests from people wanting to see the poo. As you know, I'm a man of the people. I wouldn't be very service-minded of me to keep these gems all to myself.

Here are a few of Gwen's Greatest Hits...

I like this one because there are two very distinct colors. The contrast is lovely

This one is a nice healthy shape. It makes me feel warm inside to know that Gwen has excellent bowel function.

This one needs no comment. It's simply a masterpiece!

Stay tuned for more big giving!

April Fools!!!

For those of you that haven't figured it out already, this blog is an April Fool's joke. Rick didn't create this blog- I did! I created the whole thing without his knowledge and then emailed it to his family, friends, and coworkers while pretending to be him.

Although Rick did not author this blog, Rick does love to give big. This blog is 100% factual and he did do all of these wonderful things. Ricks just to modest to broadcast it to the world.

I hope this has inspired you to give big!

Happy April Fool's Day!

Anna Marie

Twelfth Big Give

I really have enjoyed my projects that have reduced waste, so I decided to try and get people at work excited about it. I posted a memo in all of the bathrooms at work from the manager. (I thought they might take it more seriously if it was from the managerment). Here is what the memo said...


Dear Fellow Bathroom Users:

In an effort to "go green" and conserve toilet paper, let's all try to limit our toilet paper usage to a maximum of 3 squares per bowel movement. For #1, try to just air dry. (You too, ladies!) Because personal hygiene is important, I've provided each toilet stall with a squirt bottle to use for cleansing purposes. This will replace the need for toilet paper

To make it fun, each time you use the bathroom, write your name and the number of squares you used in the space provided below. At the end of the month, I will give a prize to the person who on average uses the least amount of squares.

Thanks,

The Building Management & Planet Earth

Name / Date / # of Squares Used / Poop or Pee

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Update #2- Big give for the janitor

It's not even 11 am yet on Monday morning and I've already got 16 cents and a tampon wrapper.

That's progress!

Eleventh Big Give

Today I farted in the elevator at work, and it was nasty. How am I supposed to give big if everybody is repulsed by my scent? I went back into the elevator and hour and a half later and it still smelled. Although I had a lot to do today, I went down to the local Rite Aid and bought a pine tree air freshener and hung it from the emergency pull knob. Yum- refreshing! Now everyone that enters the elevator will be greeted with the smell of a pine forest. What a wonderful way to escape from the stress of daily work life!

Tenth Big Give

Today we went out to dinner and I tipped 15% instead of my usual 12.5%. The waitress looked kinda poor, so I think she really appreciated it.

My wallet might be lighter, but my heart is fuller!

Update- Big give for the janitor

Ok, well it's the end of the day on Friday and I've had the tip jar in the men's room for a couple of days. Nothing. Unless you count a used piece of toothfloss. Selfish. I'm reallly disappointed, but I'm not going to let it stop me.

I just moved the tip jar to the ladies room. Women are much nicer. I'll let you know what happens.

Ninth Big Give

So I decided that if I get other people to help, I can give really big! I volunteered to take the Cub Scouts with me on a service project. These boys are 8 years old and very impressionable. Teaching them how to serve others can really have an impact at this age.

Anyway, I had planned on weeding an old lady's yard, but it was kind of cold out and I forgot my jacket, so instead, I brought them back to my house and taught them how to do "blue darts". I can't believe that none of them had done one before. What are parents teaching their kids these days? It felt so great to share my talents with them and help them develop their own talents.

This reminds me of a wise saying, "Give a man a meal, and you feed him for one day. Teach a man to grow a garden, and you will feed him for a lifetime." I feel like I've fed these kids for a lifetime.

Here is great blue dart video on you tube.

Update- 2nd Big Give at the Library

So, the big give at the libary didn't really work out. It ended up being really expensive. Don't try this one.

Eighth Big Give

Today made a pan of lemon bars for Anna Marie. (Yes, sometimes I bake!) She ended up getting home late so I ate them all but one. I was really doing her a favor because those things go straight to your thighs.

Seventh Big Give

Tonight I let Anna Marie hold the remote control while we were watching TV.

Sixth Big Give

Today I walked by my neighbor's house that's for sale. I feel so bad for her because her house has been on the market for a while, and she really needs to sell. It must be a serious blow to the self-esteem when nobody wants your house and or even comes by to look at at.

She just put about 50 really nice brochures out by her for sale sign. I decided to take them all. When she comes home, she will think a whole bunch of people came by her house and took brochures. That will make her feel so good.

I will also have a bunch of extra scratch paper to write on! Talk about a win-win situation!

Fifth Big Give

Today I noticed that the janitor at work has a really tough job. It's thankless. He has to clean some really nasty stuff in the bathroom- I should know because I'm responsible for half of it.
To make him feel appreciated, I'm putting a tip jar in the bathroom for him. I will give him 75% of the proceeds. (Tip jars aren't free, you know)

I think I might get one of those really big checks and present it to him at a suprise party in his honor. I might have to cut his profit down to 50% to pay for this, but it will be worth it.
I'll let you know how it goes!

Fourth Big Give

Today I decided to give back to the earth. We were at this great park right on Lake Washington when it came to me. There was a garbage can by the picnic table that was overflowing with garbage. It was seriously all over the place. People are so rude to treat mother nature with so much disrespect. This beautiful park looked more like a landfill. Half of it was stuff that could have been recycled.

So, I gathered up all the trash, and walked out to the very far end of the dock, and dumped it in the water. It's not going to hurt anything there!

The park again looked like an oasis.

Giving back to Mother Earth feels so good!

Third Big Give

Today I was walking through the food court at the mall, and I noticed a half eaten slice of pizza left at a table. I looked around and there was wasted food everywhere! Unwanted fries, perfectly good ketchup packets, cups with at least half of the soda still left in it.

This gave me a great idea. What if I was able to take all of this abandoned food, box it up, and send it to the kids in Africa? Then I realized that my idea was ridiculous. Do kids in Africa even like pizza?

Instead, I decided to eat all of the food that I possibly could. I ate for an hour straight. The food was being discarded faster than I could eat it! I ended up with a terrible stomachache, but I knew that the kids in Africa would be very happy if they knew this food wasn't wasted.

I'm also going to have some great new photos to send to my friends with feline constipation.

Second Big Give

Anna Marie was just going to leave the house to return some movies to the video store and some library books to the library. Being such a big-giver, I volunteered to go for her so that she could stay home and have some good quality time with Gwen.

I went to the library first, and put the books and the movies in the book drop by accident. Opps! I was going to go in and explain to the librarian what happened, but there was a basketball game on the radio I was listening too. They were tied up and I didn't want to miss the end! Anyway, I decided that when the library people found these movies, they would be so excited to have an unexpected addition to their movie catalog. They are going to be so happy!

First Big Give

I found a yahoo group for owners of cats with chronic constipation. It called Feline Megacolon. These poor cats are really suffering! My heart goes out to them. I decided to send them a photo of my diarrhea to help them feel better about their own issues. Constipation is not fun, but having the runs is no walk in the park either. Check out their group here if you want to give them support.

Here is my latest problem on the toilet...

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I watched Oprah's Big Give (OBG) for the first time the other night, and I was inspired. Why can't I do that? I'm not a rich man, but don't I have something that I can give to others? Check back often to follow my life as I strive to give big.