Neonna Loretta Micarelli's 1st Birthday!

 

My daughter Neonna Loretta Micarelli turned one year old, and we had a wonderful party with many family & friends to celebrate the milestone.

Photo Album:
Neonna Loretta Micarelli 1st Birthday

Neonna is my perfect little pumpkin! She is an absolute joy from the time she wakes up in the morning, with a big grin on her face. 😄  Her presence is a blessing, bringing a smiles to the faces of everyone she meets. She is already funny and cracks me up, without being able to talk. She is active and strong, like her big brother Paul Giuseppe. Loretta & I just look at her sweet face and cannot believe it. We are so happy to celebrate such a beautiful, wonderful spirit this & every day!

 

Unfortunately, on her birthday our usually happy & smiley little angel was not feeling well... teething & nap-deprived, in the brutal heat. The poor baby was miserable, would not sleep, & did not want to be put down. She still had a very special day, with many family & friends coming out to celebrate her first year of life. 

 

Paul (me) with Neonna, Paulie, & Loretta

 

As the day went on, she started feeling better, & I took her over to the kiddie pool and sprinkled her with water to cool her off. She finally started walking around and smiling again. Neonna has recently begun to walk, so she was getting around the party on her own two feet. Paulie was still relying on a walker on his 1st birthday (even if he did literally burn holes in his little Converse All Stars from scooting around on a concrete patio).

Although it was stressing us out not knowing how sick she was (because a baby can't tell you anything), parenting is always stressful. We were just deeply grateful that we were able to celebrate her turning one & to have her in our lives. I always knew I wanted to be a father, but it is completely overwhelming to really consider the awesome responsibility of raising a child. My wife and I started our family later in life, so we have the maturity to appreciate the wonder of manifesting a new human life into the world.

Neonna is such a pure & beautiful little soul. I hope & dream that she has a blessed life, full of happiness and fulfillment. I hope I'm around long enough to watch her & Paulie grow through the important stages of their lives and continue to enjoy their presence every day.

"THE INTERNET" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

*Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog

 

 

 

  "THE INTERNET" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

11-20-21

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

"HUMOR" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

*Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog

  "HUMOR" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

8-21-21

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

Paul Giuseppe - Jedi or Sith?

It's crazy how busy it gets when you have children... Working full time & having a toddler sucks all the time from my day, but I'm grateful to have such a full life. 

I realized I haven't posted in a month, so I thought I'd share a proud dad moment. 

Anyone who knows me or has followed this blog knows I'm a lifelong Star Wars fan. Recently, right around Star Wars Day (May 4th) my son Paulie took his "first step into a larger world".

First of all, I made the mistake of bringing home an electronic Darth Vader bank from my parents' house. 

You push a button and Vader lights up, talks, & moves while blasting The Imperial March. Well, my son has become completely obsessed with this thing. He has already worn out 3 sets of batteries from activating it over & over (....& over & over) again. Sometimes he'll push the button 20+ times in a row. My poor wife is so sick of it, she's ready to Force choke someone out. I never thought I would need a break from hearing The Imperial March, but here we are...

He was playing the thing so damn much, I had to give him a Darth Vader action figure just so that he would leave the bank alone & eat dinner.

Now, he loves watching videos with Vader from the films or Star Wars Kids animations. He also says "Vay-er" in the car until I play The Imperial March through the stereo.

Since he has seen clips of lightsaber duels, I've begun his Jedi padawan training - with an intro to lightsaber combat. He seems to prefer the Jedi lightsabers, while I use the double-edged Darth Maul one. So, even though he is enthralled by The Dark Lord of the Sith, he prefers Jedi weapons. He's a strong little guy, so he wields the toy swords pretty handily.

Really, his first exposure to Star Wars was Yoda & Grogu "Baby Yoda". He still loves these characters, mimicking my imitation of Yoda's laugh "Hmmm-hmm-hmm" & continuously watching the Lego Star Wars video of Grogu in the snow to the point where he knows each part of it. His grandmother gave him a Baby Yoda doll that he was carrying around all day today.

I made another big mistake of showing him a Darth Vader case in his closet, that's full of Star Wars figures, that I was saving for when he is old enough to play with them. Now, he goes to his closet, pointing up to the case & saying "Vay-er" until I take it down. I'm letting him look through them and play with them, but putting them back so he doesn't lose them.

So being such a huge Star Wars fan, it's pretty cool that my son loves it so much already. It's fun to watch video clips online with him, and I can't wait until he's old enough to watch the movies & series with me. Hopefully he embraces the Light Side, and doesn't follow Vader into the ways of the Sith...

"PARENTHOOD" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

*Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog

  "PARENTHOOD" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

7-24-21

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

 

No Touch Baby System

 
click to enlarge

 "No Touch Baby System" - Wash Station 💦👶✨

This is a funny concept I've been wanting to make since my oldest nephew was born, 13 years ago. Now that I have a son, Paul Giuseppe, I finally decided to make this graphic... before he gets too old!

I originally posted this on the Facebook page for Paul Micarelli Design:

No Touch Baby System @PaulMicarelliDesign 

Before I had a child, I always said that I would do anything to care for my kids - except change their diapers! The idea of wiping up poop totally grossed me out. The idea of the "No Touch Baby System" was that a parent could just dip their kid into the Wash Station, & it would automatically clean their ass.

Well, after having a kid, I can proudly say that this is no longer a concern. In fact, I actually enjoy changing his diaper, since it gives me a chance to comfort him & sing to him songs I've made up - like "Stinky-Dinky Spider", "Monkey Submarine" (to the tune of Yellow Submarine, w/ monkey lyrics & sounds) and a country ballad called "Powder Them Balls".

I have become completely unfazed by getting baby crap on my hands & wiping up disgusting mounds of my son's poop. It's truly amazing how parenthood changes you. The downside is the worry and fear that comes with being responsible for a little human being, as well as the constant exhaustion. I have not once felt well-rested in the 1.5 years since he's been born. I can wake up after a decent night's sleep, and incredibly, I'm still tired. I've just come to accept it at this point. The upside is pretty much everything else.

I'm not sure having a No Touch Baby System would actually dramatically improve the ease of childcare, but it was fun to make this concept after having it on my mind for so many years!

"LANGUAGE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog

 

  "LANGUAGE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

4-10-21

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

 

 

Paul Giuseppe Micarelli: First 12 Months

  

I created this video from photos I took every month of my son's 1st year of life:

Paul Giuseppe Micarelli:
First Year, June 2020-2021 

It has been an awe-inspiring experience watching him grow and begin to develop a personality. My wife Loretta & I always knew he was going to be a strong spirit, but he continually amazes us with his willpower, intelligence, and sense of humor... even though he can't talk yet! 

Being a father has proved to be the most challenging, & simultaneously the most rewarding, experience of my life. It has allowed for little time to do things that I used to enjoy, but spending time with my little buddy and helping to raise him is my top priority. Nothing else matters when I see his smiling little Plumpkin Head. My years of cultivating mindfulness and appreciation of the present moment are now giving me the ability to deeply engage the process of raising this little child. 

I pray every day that he lives a long, healthy, & happy life, and that I get to see as much of it as possible. If his first year is any indication, he will have an eventful and memorable life. We feel blessed to have this light in our lives, & we hope he brightens up the world. I love you Paul Giuseppe Micarelli, my son!!!

Paul Giuseppe Micarelli - 1st Birthday Party

The invitation I created for the birthday party, featuring my wild little son!

 

I haven't posted a lot here recently, since I work full time and spend a lot of my free time with my son, who just had his 1st birthday! Being a father is an awesome experience, and I am blessed that Paulie is healthy, smart, and already funny (even though he can't talk)!

A year ago, his birth was simultaneously the most traumatic & beautiful experience of my life. My wife and I planned on a natural home birth, but we found ourselves in a medical emergency when the baby's umbilical cord became prolapsed (pushed over his head) after Loretta's water forcefully broke. I wrote about our story shortly after:

Paul Giuseppe Micarelli - Born 6-13-20!

Having a child born during the COVID pandemic and social upheaval has really been a strange & difficult circumstance. The challenges surrounding Paul Giuseppe's birth have given us a deep, profound appreciation for his presence in our lives.

As I see him developing, I'm enjoying him more & more! He already has a little personality and cracks everyone up with his smile and funny sounds, like his dramatic laugh & grunts when doing something strenuous. Paulie is stubborn, persistent, and rough, but also very sweet and happy. He loves to play and is so curious- he is fascinated by mechanical things like clasps, buttons, and hinges. Currently, he is obsessed with wireless speakers, so I got him a little one for his birthday that is rugged enough to endure his rough handling & drool.

Here are some of the nicknames we've given him:
Lil' Rascal  • Meatball Head • Plumpkin • The Milk Goblin • Peanut • Squeaky Skadattles • Scoots • Uncle Fusster • Crank Sinatra • Lil' C-Blocker • Pig Boy • Little Mr. Fidgewidge

I've made up a character for him that I use to entertain my sister's kids... pretending he is an emperor as I carry him around & they must obey his bidding:

"Caesar Paulgustus"

I am writing this mostly for him, as a record that hopefully he gets to see someday, the same way my grandfather Joseph Micarelli recorded his experiences that I'm now able to appreciate.

Photo Album:

Paul Giuseppe Micarelli - 1st Birthday June 2021

I've also taken some video of his big day & edited together:

Every day during my morning meditation, I pray that my son lives a long, happy, & healthy life, and that Loretta & I get to see him grow up to be a fulfilled adult. I am grateful for his presence in my life and hope his light shines into the world.

"GENDER" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog   

 "GENDER" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

3-7-21

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

 

"MONEY" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog 

 "MONEY" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

1-17-21

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

"GRATITUDE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

  *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog 

 "GRATITUDE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

11-26-20 

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

"MEDITATION" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog 

 "MEDITATION" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

10-20-20 

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

 

The Future of Fusion

A conception of a compact fusion power plant,
developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology -Alexander Creely

As we start a new year (& here in the United States a new Presidential administration), it is a good time to look forward and plan how we are going to advance as a civilization.

For Christmas I received the game No Man's Sky Beyond, which I think is awesome, & is based on interstellar space travel and futuristic technology.

This game, & also imagining the future of my son Paul Giuseppe have got me thinking a lot recently about what we as a human species should be striving to achieve.

As I've said here many times before, I think space travel is one of the most important priorities of humanity. Traveling & living off-planet is crucial to our long-term survival as a species, and we need to take it much more seriously.

To be able to reach this goal of thriving in outer space, we need to first make advances in technology that will allow us to do so. One of the main obstacles to long-distance space travel is adequate power sources. 

I have been seeing a lot of articles and information lately about the development of nuclear fusion power. Breakthroughs in this field are going to revolutionize our lives, in ways we cannot currently imagine.

Here is a video explaining some of the basics behind fusion-generated energy: 

I was reading this encouraging article about American scientists developing fusion technology, which led me to write this post.

Science Magazine:
U.S. physicists Rally Around Ambitious Plan
to Build Fusion Power Plant

This is a video (slowed down) of just a couple seconds of a reaction inside a fusion reactor. The plasma torus is a thing of sublime beauty, and is the first glimpse at a future of unlimited energy.

Fusion power is one of those technologies that always seems to be "...just a few decades away". However, with enough money and dedication to the process, we can achieve anything we can put our collective minds to work to solve.

"LOVE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog  

 

 "LOVE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

10-17-20 

 

Taking a walk with my son Paul Giuseppe and talking about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

A.I. Literature

 Being a creative professional, I feel (& hope) that my graphic design skills aren't replaceable by computer algorithm in the near future. 

The Monkey Buddha Archives:
A.I. Logo Design

However, I see the various ways that artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to for creative applications and know that it is only a matter of time before there is serious competition from computer-driven solutions to literary and artistic endeavors.

Writing & literature is one area where A.I. is making noticeable progression. I came across this article that was composed using OpenAI language generator, in which a prompt is given & the computer creates text. In this case, the prompt was "Focus on why humans have nothing to fear from AI".

The Guardian:
A robot wrote this entire article. Are you scared yet, human?

 

After seeing this article, I then saw this website called Shortly, in which you start a story or essay and the A.I. generates more content.

www.shortlyread.com

I started a story about my son Paul Giuseppe, & the website produced a coherent and interesting continuation of the text. 

It was pretty amazing, actually, and offers a glimpse at the creative power that machine learning will contribute to culture. (I was about to write "..contribute to human culture", but I don't think culture is solely a product of the human mind anymore...)

"SPACE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog 

 

 "SPACE" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's 

10-14-20 

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

A Monkey Buddha Family Halloween

 This was the first Halloween for my son Paul Giuseppe Micarelli. My mother-in-law brought Paulie a monkey costume, so I thought it would be fun for me & my wife Loretta to dress like a monkey family.

I originally wanted to wear robes & be "Monkey Buddhas", but it's hard enough trying to get things together with an infant! So, we were a plain-clothes Monkey Buddha family. 

Since he's still a baby & we weren't interested in pandemic trick-or-treating, we individually visited his grandparents and one of our friend couples. It was a lot of fun & we look forward to a more conventional Halloween when he's older.

"RELIGION" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog 

 

 "RELIGION" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's 

10-9-20 

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

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More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

 

"POLITICS" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's

 *Originally posted to the Conscious Living for You blog 

 

 "POLITICS" - 'Thinking Aloud' with 2 Paul Micarelli's 

9-28-20 

 

Paul Micarelli & son Paul Giuseppe take a walk and talk about interesting topics. 🤔💡👶🏻 

 

***Please LIKE & SHARE, Thank You!*** 

 

More info at: http://www.ConsciousLivingForYOU.net

 

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