How to read to your kids when on a work trip

I’ve heard some studies say that one of the most important activities you can do with your children is to read to them.

Well, I’ve been traveling quite a bit for work lately,and as of this writing I’m averaging about 2 weeks of work travel a month now.  That’s about 8 evenings a month I don’t get to read to my kids (at least mom picks up the slack when I’m not home).

Through the use of available recording technology, here is a little something a traveling parent can do so your child can hear you reading to them whenever you are on travel (or when they want to hear your voice).  The cost is minimal and there are numerous positive benefits.  I did this for my boys so they could hear me reading to them whenever they wish.

  • Purchase a headset to connect to your laptop or computer (analog or USB is good, see my AV gear page)
  • Install & Use some audio recording software to record your voice (I use Audacity)
  • Read your children’s favorite books and record the audio (a WAV file would be nice to input to the Levelator)
  • Make a MP3 from the recorded and leveled audio.
  • Purchase a set of computer speakers (about $12) and a low end MP3 player (about $28), both pictured above
  • Put your recorded MP3 “audiobooks” on the MP3 player
  • Put the speakers and MP3 player and speakers in your child’s room where they read
  • Show your child how to select the audio for a book they want to read
  • Press play and let them read along with the audio (or just listen)

I know this in no way substitutes for real in -person reading with your child (so much more is communicated to your child through non-verbal language and touch), but it’s a great alternative for the traveling parent to invest some up-front time recording to allow your child to hear your voice later.  My little $40 investment in each of my boys will have future benefits that can’t be measured.

Here’s a small audio sample of a book I recorded so my kids can play and read along when I’m away from home.

Download the mp3 here.

Enjoy!

– Dom

New Veggie Market in Bernalillo

Since we live in north Rio Rancho, anytime we go to Albuquerque we end up driving through Bernalillo on highway 550.

Half way between I-25 and the Rio Grande River there is a new vegetable market on the north side of the road.  Some local entrepreneur converted a old liquor store into a fresh veggie stand that caters to the local hispanic market.

One day, we decided to stop by and take a quick look at the new market.  I was surprised to find many fresh produce items, as well as, dried items that the local pueblo indians would find useful, like dried corn, corn husks, and melons.

Anyway, I’m glad to see things like this popping up locally.

– Dom

No sales tax on a vehicle transfer in NM

I recently bought a truck from my sister and financed it through the local Kirtland federal credit union (FCU) in the Albuquerque area.

I was really glad I did, the local branch manager mentioned a interesting little tip to me about vehicle title and transfer when I initially talked to him about the loan.

I was expecting to pay some kind of sales tax along with the transaction, something like 3% (or a little over $500) of the amount financed is typical.

The tip was that a vehicle can be gifted to another family member, this means there is no “money” exchanged between parties and the Bill of Sale amount is marked “Gift”  Along with that another form is filled out detailing the relationship of the people in the transaction called “Affidavit of Gift”.

It is the filling out of these 2 forms that allows family members to avoid paying the 3% sales tax when a vehicle/boat is transferred.

Kirtland FCU also handled getting me a temporary plate (card) and helped register the truck (I still had to pay the registration fee).  When the NM plate comes into the local branch in a couple weeks, all I need to do is just pick it up.

Great customer service, thanks Kirtland FCU!

Hope this is useful, it was to me!

– Dom

MDK Barber Shop – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

When I moved to the Albuquerque area, one of the things I was looking for was a barber shop for myself and my boys.  It took several barber shops and a while to find a place I liked.

I lived on the east side of Tucson for 10 years and was spoiled with the Two Sons Barber Shop.  This family business was awesome, they cut great hair and it was a place to catch up with what’s going on locally in Tucson, especially Wildcat Basketball.  It was also a place to meet people and connect with others who did business in the area.

My 2 boys and I have been going to MDK Barber Shop in Rio Rancho now for several months.  It’s much like the shop in Tucson, family owned, great hair cuts, and lively atmosphere.  I’m sure over time I’ll see much of the same as I did in Tucson.

– Dom

*UPDATE* Since I wrote this post, MDK barbershop has created a website … www.mdkbarbershop.com

Pellet Stove Exhaust Blower Motor fix update

I’ve updated one of my older posts (ok really old) on a noisy exhaust blower motor on a Whitfield Advantage Optima 3 FS pellet stove (now owned by Lennox Hearth Products).  The update was largely due to my annual deep cleaning of my in-law’s stove and learning things along the way.

If you are into this kind of renegade after market noise reduction solution, go check it out here:

https://dompruitt.com/2008/12/25/whitfield-advantage-ii-pellet-stove-noisyrattling-blower/

– Dom