Turns out, most of the time.     

What we consider nuts are not "technically" nuts, by the botanical definition. I was going to write in more detail about this misconception, but it has already been done so much better here.

And this next point may interrupt the flow of this post, but I feel compelled to say it now - this is not meant in any way to minimize or poke fun at the very serious nut allergies that more and more kids seem to be having these days. Luckily, we don't have this issue in my family so I can only imagine how terrifying it is for other parents.

So which of these do you think are true nuts?

• Peanut - legume
• Pistachio - seed
• Cashew - seed
• Walnut - drupe
• Brazil nut - seed
• Almond - drupe

So what's left? What sorts of nuts are actually nuts?

Chestnuts, hazelnuts and acorns.

I stumbled across a funny music video that adds a little humor and song to the whole "I can't believe it's not a nut!" topic. I hope you enjoy it and if you do, check out rathergood.com. 

Now this is definitely a nut!

Anyone with kids knows they have a limited threshold for changes to their schedule and once it is exceeded, any little thing can make them erupt like Krakatoa. Adults have better control, but we also have our limits and when those are tested, fuses can get short.

One week, various changes to our son's schedule taxed him - house-hunting, a circus performance at school, road-trip to Grandma's - a perfect storm to reduce the tolerance of a 5 year old. So when I told him he needed to take a shower Sunday night, this was not well received and his resistance was...how shall I put it, spirited!

I had 3 choices, but given his delicate state and that this wasn't a matter of life and death, I opted for #3, hoping it would work, but not sure.
1. Fight
2. Retreat
3. Flow around

"Let's forget the shower. How about a bubble bath? You can use your boat and turtle and hippo!"

What came next was sort of funny - a big smile and "SURE!" Then the excited pitter-patter of toddler feet and the sound of my hand slapping my forehead in disbelief at this turn of events.

The lesson this reinforced for me is that the framing of a task has a HUGE impact on our attitude towards it. Write a report or tell a story? Give a presentation or share challenges and successes with colleagues? Have a difficult conversation or face a problem to ultimately strengthen a relationship?

Hopefully this approach makes me more likely to tackle seemingly unwelcome tasks and be more persuasive in encouraging others to do the same. EZPZ!

Alternate title: How a sunburn lowered stress, saved money, and helped me get married (not necessarily in that order).

Charlottesville is a scenic town about 2 hours south of Washington, D.C. and is home to the University of Virginia (Go Hoos!), which was founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819. Twice a year there is an event in Charlottesville called the Foxfield Races. You lay a picnic blanket on the grass and enjoy food and drinks with friends while watching horses race. It's a simpler version of the Kentucky derby, without the wacky hats.

A few years after I graduated I went to Foxfield with some college friends. It was a blisteringly hot day and we all got a lot of sun. I was visiting from NJ so that evening I crashed with some friends who lived in Alexandria, Virginia. In the morning I woke up with a killer headache. However, it was an odd sensation because my headaches usually hurt behind my eyes or at my temples. This one was more from the top of my head.

I went to wash my face and noticed in the mirror that my scalp was a rosy pink. After a few moments of pondering I realized with horror that the top of my head was sunburned! I had noticed my hair starting to thin in college, but this was serious.

Long story short, this was when I realized 1) my need for sunblock or a hat; 2) cutting my hair short, while helpful, didn't hide the fact that I was balding; and 3) I needed to do something about it. In the end, I decided to take the plunge and shave my head. This was an agonizing decision as I had no idea how I would look and shaved heads were not that common at the time.

It took some time to adjust for sure, but more than a decade later I can honestly say I wish I had done it earlier. After many years living with a shaved head, here is my list of the top 10 benefits.

10. A bottle of shampoo lasts almost a year and you don't need conditioner.
9. I save time and money by cutting my own hair.
8. Worry-free rides in convertibles, boats, and roller coasters.
7. The priceless look on the face of the VP of Employment Law (before I let him off the hook) when he realized I shaved my head as he was saying, "Something is different about you. I'm... not... sure... what..."
6. Getting ready in the morning is a lot quicker.
5. Never having to worry about changing my hairstyle.
4. It was the first thing my future wife noticed about me and she thinks it shows confidence.  
3. No bed head.
2. No hat head.
And last, but not least...
1. NO bad hair days!