Recently a friend asked me about the pro’s and con’s of the City Mini stroller vs. the Maclaren Techno XLR stroller so I thought I would share my thoughts with everyone since we own both.  If you are in the market for a stroller, I hope this is helpful.

City Mini:

• Pro’s
  • Incredibly lightweight – less than 17lbs
  • Super easy to open and close; you can do it with one hand
  • Easy to buckle the baby in and you can do it quickly
  • Extremely easy to maneuver especially over curbs and through doorways
  • Single front wheel makes for simple turns and for those that like to jog, the front wheel locks for a smooth run
  • Great coverage for keeping your little one out of the sun.  Peep windows on the hood allow you to check on your baby while you walk/jog
  • One handle bar so you can put the Skip Hop diaper bag on it and push with one hand
  • Excellent for multi-terrain usage
  • Not overly expensive – $229 range
• Con’s
  • All of the accessories are sold separately; belly bar, parent pack, cup holder, feeding tray
  • The basket on the bottom is small and there is no back mesh pocket
  • Not as luxurious or probably as comfortable a seat as some of the others since there is not much padding but our little one’s don’t know any different anyway

Maclaren XLR:

• Pro:
  • Extremely well made, sturdy and durable
  • Much more luxurious seat and probably more comfortable
  • Two handles – can hang packages from them but be careful they aren’t too heavy and tip the stroller
  • Baskets are much roomier and you can fit more
• Con:
  • Heavier and bulkier than the City Mini
  • Not as easy to open and close but still doable in a flash
  • Lock on the harness is really tight and sometimes tough to undo in a rush
  • Maneuverability around corners or making turns is not very smooth
  • Coverage from the sun is fair at best
  • More expensive – about $350

My personal preference happens to be the City Mini on most occassions especially when we are in NYC.  Darren calls it the ‘Porche’ of strollers and I have to agree.

Yesterday, Aunt Judy & Uncle Bob graciously invited us with several of our friends for a small gathering at their summer house on Greenwood Lake.  We were so thrilled and appreciative that they opened up their home for us that we packed up virtually everything in our house except the kitchen sink and brought it with us.  I definitely took some ribbing for everything came along with us especially the extra rolls of toilet paper.  I am sure we will be hearing about that for years to come.

The day was a lot of fun and despite the weather being cloudy and cooler than expected the kids didn’t seem to mind at all.  In fact, they were in and out of the kiddie pool and wearing their bathing suits for most of the afternoon.  The girls took turns playing ‘captain’ on the pontun boat and really had a blast.  If only the sun shined for us we could have taken them out for a ride on the lake.  David loved being showered with attention by all the young ladies in attendance and was treated like a king for the entire day.  We all had a great time and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon away from it all.  We were incredibly lucky that the rain held off til we literally put the last few things in our trunks and were ready to say goodbye.  Thanks Judy & Bob for an amazing afternoon!

I can’t believe that it was eight months ago today that I came into this world.  Mommy can’t believe it either.  The time is going by very quickly.  I must say that being eight months old is fabulous.  I can pretty much sit up all by myself and play with my toys for periods of time.  I love taking things out of boxes and putting everything and anything in my mouth including the remote for the TV.  I am still teething away but not a single tooth yet.  Mom was a late teether so I must be just like her.  Eventually they will all start to pop out and then I’ll have a mouth full of teeth.  I am a really good eater and think baby food is far better than formula lately.  I enjoy just about everything with squash, carrots, green beans, mango, and bananas topping my list of favorites.  I can’t wait til I can eat table food because all I do is stare and mommy and daddy when they eat.  What is on their plate looks quite interesting. Also, my grandma’s can’t wait to give me a cookie and ice cream so I’m looking forward to that too.

Since the summer has finally descended upon us, I am hitting the pool just about every day.  Not to worry, mommy covers me in sunscreen and I’m always wearing a hat so I don’t get too much sun or a sunburn.  After couple of times of getting used to the water, I am loving the pool.  Grandma Bobbie is teaching me to swim and I’m having a great time splashing away.  Later this summer Mom and Dad are taking me on my first vacation to the Hamptons and I’m so excited since I will have my first beach experience.  I’m piqued with curiosity about the feel of the sand and the ocean.  I’ll try not to take home too much of the beach with me when we leave but somehow I think that is inevitable.

I’m still not mobile yet which is a blessing for Mom and Dad.  I can sit outside all day and play, play, play but I can’t go anywhere.  Just wait.  Once the holidays are upon us I have a feeling they will be chasing me around the house.  Daddy says he wants to exercise more, well I promise to give him quite the workout later this year.

It’s been a fabulous year so far and I am so excited for what lies ahead.  More music class, my first gymboree class later this fall and all sorts of other wonderful experiences.  It’s been a blast to date and I can’t wait for more!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything relating to work but Careerbuilder.com published the following article which I thought was great.  It reminded me of my HR days and all the ‘did he/she actually just say that’ moments during interviews.  Enjoy…it’s pretty funny.

“I’m not wanted in this state.”

“How many young women work here?”

“I didn’t steal it; I just borrowed it.”

“You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!”

“I’ve never heard such a stupid question.”
Believe it or not, the above statements weren’t overhead in bars or random conversations — they were said in job interviews.

Maybe you were nervous, you thought the employer would appreciate your honesty, or maybe you just have no boundaries. Whatever the reason, you can be certain that you shouldn’t tell an interviewer that it’s probably best if they don’t do a background check on you. (And yes, the hiring manager remembered you said that.)

We asked hiring managers to share the craziest things they’ve heard from applicants in an interview. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are jaw dropping — the majority are both. To be sure, they will relieve anyone who has ever said something unfortunate at a job interview — and simply amuse the rest of you.

Hiring managers shared these 43 memorable interview responses:

Why did you leave your last job?1. “I have a problem with authority.” – Carrie Rocha, COO of HousingLink

Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it
2. “The resolution was we were both fired.”- Jason Shindler, CEO, Curvine Web Solutions

What kind of computer software have you used?
3. “Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don’t have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it.” – Greg Szymanski, director of human resources, Geonerco Management, Inc

What are your hobbies and interests?
4. [He said] ‘Well, as you can see, I’m a young, virile man and I’m single — if you ladies know what I’m saying.’ Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, ‘I particularly like blondes.‘” – Petri R.J. Darby, president, darbyDarnit Public Relations

Why should we hire you?
5. “I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time.” – Bill McGowan, founder, Clarity Media Group

Do you have any questions?
6. “Cross dressing isn’t a problem is it?” – Barry Maher, Barry Maher & Associates

7. “If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?” – Megan Garnett, Articulate Leadership Team, Articulate Communications Inc.

8. “What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it’s raining? Can you pick me up?” – Christine Pechstein, career coach

9. “I was a Chamber of Commerce Executive once hiring a secretary. [The candidate asked] ‘What does a Chamber of Commerce do?’” – Mary Kurek, Mary Kurek, Inc. Visibility Consulting

10. “Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go.” – Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing, Clare Computer Solutions

11. “What is your company’s policy on Monday absences?” – Campbell

12. “If this doesn’t work out can I call you to go out sometime?” – Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching

13. “How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it’s some serious cash.” – Bolzan

14. “[The candidate asked,] ‘Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I’m not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him.‘ The dad did call. Then that dad’s friends called and I ended up doing a conference call with a group of concerned parents … long story.” – Bolzan

15. “If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?” – Bolzan

16. “When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?” – Bolzan

17. “Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don’t plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast feed and would want to use that room.”- Bolzan

18. “So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?” – Jodi R.R. Smith, Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting

Why are you leaving your current job?
19. “Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building.” – Abbe Mortimore, Human Resources Manager, True Textiles, Inc.

20. “I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes.” – Smith

Why are you looking for a job?
21. “Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job.” – Pechstein

22. “My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I’m here.” – McGowan

Why do you want to work for us?
23. “Just for the benefits.” – Jennifer Juergens, JJ Communications

24. “My old boss didn’t like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!” – Matt Cowall, communications manager, Appia Communications

25. “I saw the job posted on Twitter and thought, why not?” – Rebecca Gertsmark Oren, Communications Director at The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

What are your assets? (as in strengths)
26. “Well, I do own a bike.” – Pam Venné, principal, The Venné Group

What are your weaknesses?
27. “I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won’t get mad at you.” – Pechstein

28. “I had a job candidate tell me that she often oversleeps and has trouble getting out of bed in the morning.” – Linda Yaffe, certified executive coach

29. “I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job.” - Deb Bailey, owner, Power Women Magazine & Radio Show

30. “I’m really not a big learner. You know … some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that’s just not me. I’d much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn’t change a lot.” – Michaele Charles, Voice Communications

When have you demonstrated leadership skills?
31. “Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that.” – Rachel Croce

Is there anything else I should know about you?
32. “You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends.” – Venne

When can you start?
33. “I need to check with my mom on that one.” – Bolzan

Use three adjectives to describe yourself
34. “I hate questions like this.”

Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it
35. “I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement.”

Have you submitted your two weeks’ notice to your current employer?
36. “What is two weeks’ notice? I’ve never quit a job before, I’ve always been fired.”

Random responses
37. “One guy [said] ‘it would probably be best’ if I didn’t run a background check on him. Of course, I did, and learned all about his long, sordid past of law-breaking. Our client actually offered him a job as a staff accountant, but quickly retracted the offer when I had to tell them all about his recent arrest for a meth lab in his basement.” – Charles

38. “[A] guy said he did not have a mailing address, as he was living in a gypsy camp at the airport.” – Sandra L. Flippo, SPHR

39. “I went into the lobby to pick up a candidate. As he stood up, his trousers fell to the floor! [He said] ‘Oh, my gosh — they told me I needed a suit for the interview. I’ve got no money — so I borrowed this thing. It’s too big!‘” – Beth Ross, executive and career coach

40. “Wow — I’m not used to wearing dress shoes! My feet are killing me. Can I show you these bloody blisters?” – Bolzan

41. “May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night.” – Smith

42. (During a telephone call to schedule the interview) “Can we meet next month? I am currently incarcerated.” – Smith

43. “[A candidate] was asked whether he could advocate impartially on behalf of the various universities he would be representing since he had attended one of them. He responded, ‘Well, I don’t like to poop where I eat, but I thought my education sucked, so I certainly wouldn’t put that school above the others.’” – Darby

It’s been awhile since I gave an update on my time at the pool.  I have to say, I am really starting to enjoy it.  The weather has not been overly cooperative so I haven’t had as many opportunities to get comfortable with the water as I had hoped.  But the last few days have been pool weather so Mom has been working with me and I am loving it!  Those that are regular readers of Hermanweb know that the first time I hit the water, I cried.  This week there were no tears to be found.  Mom splashed a little water on my arms and legs and then I was raring to go.  I rode in my floaty for awhile kicking my feet and reaching over to touch the water with my hands.  I had my serious face on but I was enjoying it.  I splashed and splashed getting my face all wet.  It was so much fun.  Grandma Bobbie came over today and helped me get even more comfortable by helping me float on my tummy so I could keep my head up and look around while I kicked.  Then Daddy got into the action and really pushed my limits by introducing me to going under the water but only to the tip of my nose.  I didn’t cry but I was really puzzled by what he was doing.  Mom’s goal is for me to go completely under later this summer so I’m not afraid of the water.  As scary as it can be, I need to be able to swim and everyone says that I have to go all the way under at a young age so I’m not fearful when I get older.  I’m waiting to see if they really go thru with it.  We shall see.  Until then, I will be kicking, splashing and having a blast as long as the rain stays away.

I just finished watching an interesting segment on Today about the changing role of dads and how many fathers have become ’stay at home dads’ while their wives returned to the workforce.  Profiling former high level executives from leading financial services firms, the segment showed how Dad’s have had to step it up and take responsibility for their children and their homes since losing their jobs as a result of the economic downturn.  There are now ‘Daddy & Me” meetups in parks and get togethers for ‘Stay at Home Dads”.  The segment quoted that membership in the ‘Stay at Home Dad’ meetup group on Meetup.com has more than doubled in the last six months.  With 75+ members in the NYC group these Dad’s admittedly are just trying to keep things afloat until they find a job.  They all acknowledge how hard it is to stay home and have a new appreciation for the wives who once were home juggling feeding schedules, diaper changes, music classes and other activities.  I have yet to stumble upon these men on the days I spend in Central Park but I’m sure they are there.  In fact, I am seeing many more mom’s strolling the city streets with their little ones than ever before.  Slowly but surely I think we are seeing more and more stay at home moms or dads.  It will be interesting to see when the economy picks up how many will choose to stay home indefinitely vs. those that choose to return to the workforce.

Friday night Darren and I had another date night and decided to try 42 at the top of the Ritz Carlton in White Plains.  We have been to The Ritz a bunch of times but have never dined at the restaurant atop the tallest building in town.   We stopped up a couple of times for drinks and tapas but this was to be our first dining experience.  Dressed up for a night on the town we arrived without a reservation but miraculously they were able to seat us.  Upon walking in, my first impression, was wow – this is beautiful.  The dining room is in a completely separate area than the bar and lounge thus creating a more intimate atmosphere.  The tables were positioned in such a way that no matter where you sat you had a view of the sunset, the Hudson River or the skyline of Manhattan out in the distance.  The sun was just going down as we sat and it was a clear night so we could see for miles.  So far, everything was perfect and we were both excited.  The waiters and staff were all very friendly and extremely accommodating.  We took our time ordering while we enjoyed some wine and a fresh array of breads that were served.

The menu although somewhat small certainly does have something for everyone and aside from a few of the meat dishes they were reasonably priced.  There were many ala carte options as well as a tasting menu and a small fixed price menu.  We opted for the ala carte section.  I started with the beef carpacio and Darren had a calamari and pasta appetizer.  I was rather disappointed.  The beef carpacio was fair at best and despite the three different toppings, none of them had much taste aside from the fact that it seemed the chef poured the salt shaker all over it.  Terrible.  Darren’s calamari/pasta served in a tomato broth however, was very flavorful and the portion was extremely generous for an appetizer.  I should have ordered that.  Oh well.  I thought things would improve with the main dish but not so for me.  Once again, Darren enjoyed his plate of grilled vegetables with chevre cheese but I disliked my lobster dish.  Again, it was too salty.  That should never be the case.  Prepared over wilted spinach the lobster tail and mini claws were swimming in a sauce that tasted like it had sea water on it.  I ate it but I should have sent it back.  Dessert was no better.  But this time we both agreed that what we ordered was tasteless.  Very disappointing from my perspective.

Overall, I would give the restaurant high marks for the service and atmosphere but they get a huge thumbs down from me for the food.  Darren on the other hand really enjoyed his meal and would gladly return.

Last night we celebrated Darren’s grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary at Equus in Tarrytown.  What a beautiful place!  Equus is located in the The Castle on the Hudson and was one of the nicest restaurants I’ve been to in Westchester thus far.  When we pulled up to the entrance we were warmly greeted by the valet and then escorted inside.  We gathered in the bar area for a few cocktails and to toast Grandma and Grandpa before moving into the Garden Room for dinner.  The old world charm is just oozing out of every corner in this historic landmark and makes for a very elegant and romantic atmosphere.  The restaurant has several dining rooms but the Garden Room was perfect for our celebration.  The menu has a variety of choices and offers ala carte selections as well as a three or six course tasting menu with wine pairings.   I had the onion soup au gratin to start and it was exceptional.  I love soup to begin with, especially onion soup, but the chef made an extremely tasty and flavorful broth with the vadallia onions and it tasted better than any other onion soup I’ve had.  For my entree I ordered the monkfish with butter lobster and it was outstanding.  The portion of fish was generous and came with 1/2 a small lobster tail and 1/2 of the meat of a claw; both of which were so sweet and juicy.  Sweet english peas accompanied the fish and they were delicious too.  Everyone else ordered either meat or fish and I didn’t see anything left on anyone’s plate when the meal was finished.

After dinner we were escorted to a different room for dessert and a cabaret show.  The Castle offers a cabaret show every Sunday evening and this summer they are featuring talented broadway singers performing a variety of music specials.  Last evening was a tribute to Johnny Mercer, lyricist and singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others.  He wrote the lyrics to more than a thousand songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows from the late 30’s to the mid 50’s.  While most of us did not know Mercer’s music, Grandma and Grandpa did and they were enjoying every minute of it.  It was so wonderful to see Grandma singing the words along with the performer.  She was in heavan and I loved watching her beaming smile as she listened.

It was a beautiful night all around and we enjoyed it from start to finish.  For a special occassion or a romantic night out, I highly recommend Equus.  Darren and I will be returning in August to celebrate our anniversary and are looking forward to it.

On Friday, I will be seven months old.  Wow, seven months!  The time is flying and I’m starting to get really good at things.  I’m a big talker first of all…must take after my Uncle Kenny since he’s the ‘mayor’ in my book.  Hopefully I will have his way with the ladies too when I get older.  I’m Mr. Social and flash my gummy smile to everyone I see but I don’t have any teeth yet.  I love to have conversations with my hands and feet and babble all day long.  I’ve already mastered ‘da-da’ but still haven’t gotten around to saying ‘ma-ma’.  Sorry Mommy.

I finally learned how to roll over from my belly to my back.  What a milestone!  Now every time Mommy is lotioning my back and tushie, I find it necessary to roll right over so she picks me up and lets me do it over and over til I get cranky.  I still haven’t figured out how to roll from my back to my belly.  I’m almost there though, maybe next month.

My biggest achievement to date is my ability to eat.  I love my fruits and veggies.  Surprisingly, I like the green veggies as much as the yellow.  While I am a good eater most of the time, if I’m not in the mood I lock my lips so don’t even try to get something in there.  It’s not going to work.  My favorite foods are bananas, pears, carrots and peas.  Mom keeps introducing me to new things and most of them are good.  Over the next couple of weeks she said she is going to add some exciting new foods to my diet including chicken, turkey and beef.  I wonder how I will like those.  She also can’t wait to mash up a good melon like cantaloupe or honeydew since she says they are yummy sweet and very healthy.  Aside from food, I like drinking water.  My doctor said I can have a little bit when I am outside on a hot day or a few sips when I am eating my lunch or dinner.  He said I could start to use a sippy cup but I didn’t like it that much so Mom tried giving me a few sips right from the cup and I like that MUCH better.  Looks like she is going to be teaching me to use a real cup very soon.

Developmentally, I’ve come a long way in the past month.  Aside from rolling over one way, I’m getting much better at sitting.  I also grab and reach for toys that are nearby.  I can hold a toy in each hand and transfer one to the other too.  I love to stare at my hands and marvel as I make them move.  My feet are by far my favorite body party that I’ve discovered.  I’m in heaven when Mom lets me be barefoot and I can grab hold of my toes.  It’s the best part of my day when I can lay on my back and put my feet in my mouth.  Nothing is better than that!

It’s been such an exciting month for me (not to mention, Daddy who was in the New York Times on Sunday).  I can’t wait to see what next month has in store for me.  It certainly is going to be an exciting summer!