so… Emma Jo and I are doing a lot of exploring of late.

recently it’s around music. as many of you know Emma Jo and I had a good chat about Adele and also Alison Moyet. that got me to thinking about all manner of opportunities inherent in comparison and (or) contrast. life lessons, stuff.

with me, I had her listen to versions of a song both titled, We Are Young. One option is offered-up by the group Fun. it should be ably noted that this option is quite popular with many a youth, others youthful at heart, and featured on a television commercial. that commercial is a good viewing experience offered up by Chevrolet, no less – but, it’s original bar fight inspiration is sinister and dangerous; juxtapositional. well, the other effort is positioned by, Sing Me Insomnia (this version, is ironically, not so popular, generally).

I’ll lay them out in this post for both your listening pleasure, and your own efforts towards making a vital comparison. do it!

for me the bigger question becomes what you do with different messages born of inspiration, but not the same aspiration.

watch the videos and then listen to the words (visa versa is fine). my God, the messaging is so mixed it makes my own head spin. yet, within all of this is realized an opportunity to walk with my little girl, my little buddy, my tiger, though life lessons and examples.

to wit…

We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe), by Fun. and, also, We Are Young, by, Sing Me Insomnia.

lift it up, as you see fit.

I love being a Dad. and, this very weekend we’ll find ourselves at the My Princess Dance!

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

time certainly does fly, but all the more so when every Daddy grimly observes the ticking clock against the dreaded time his “little girl” lets go of his protective hand.

however, those fears can be reasonably set aside for the moment, because its that magical time of year, again. and, the 7th Annual – My Princess Dance is upon us! it is! so, mark your calendars! guard the date, and fiercely so! Saturday, February 18th at 630pm to 9pm at The Foundry at Puritan Hill. stand firm, goodly men, and register, here.

to be sure, you’ve read earlier stories on this Blog from last year, God gave me daughters. What did He give you?, Its time for a Princess to Dance!, the Princess and the me, and, investing in my daughters.

consider forging a few stories of your own.

I have three Princesses in my immediate family with the girl of my dreams at my side, and two daughters that I’m determined will realize their own.

I coach a good number of princesses in soccer. but, that is different. and, the stuff of other stories. you can always read about those adventures, here. now, I’m also coaching young lads in Lacrosse with the best hopes of influencing them to be gallant around any right Princess. more on all that, to be certain.

Haley Anne and I went to the first “Daddy/ Daughter Dance” six short years ago after a heads-up from Woody Faulk (a father of four girls of his own) let me know he would be hosting this inspiring event. it has quickly became an Atlanta-area tradition. Last year the event was renamed, and aptly so, “My Princess Dance,” and held at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead. More than five hundred fathers and daughters came to that My Princess Dance, and they are, and all of them, forever changed. complete with princesses, carriages, chocolate fountains, and a knighting ceremony, the evening was spectacular.

Haley Anne kicked me to the curb after seventh grade and I started taking Emma Jo to the dance. the experience has been brilliant for us all, and I’m keen to share it with any man that understands how important he is in the life of his daughter. I’m convinced this is a vital bond where God really trusts some of us with daughters. the anticipation builds with talks about pretty dresses and an afternoon getting hair and nails done (or, Mommy can certainly do that!). it’s dancing practice and perhaps a special dinner. then come the shared secrets and the memories that enchant a life-time realized in only the span of a few hours that leave us all the more excited about the next year.

the My Princess Dance is all about the importance of family by stopping the busy-ness of life, and spending time with those we love, and cherish, the most.

read more about My Princess Dance in this story, printed by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution: bit.ly/fLhOUt. do it!

and, then watch the video below for a sense of what is yet to come (sorry if it’s bleeding over on this blog page. it’s videos fault, and not mine own – yet, I’ll forgive almost anything that helps me share this wondrous event with you all.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

Emma Jo and I find a lot of fun, and sometimes silly, things to do.

she turned nine just yesterday, and is becoming a very interesting little person.

one of our favorites is planning trips to New York City. I’m also coaching her in soccer again. she is part of Shockers Nation now, just like “sissy” (yesterday, their two teams combined for a massive scoring effort of fourteen goals with none against us). reading Harry Potter has gotten interesting, as well.

but, more often than not, after a hard days work and after school, we like to snuggle on the big sofa and watch Disney’s, Phineas and Ferb. it’s brilliant.

here’s the theme song, just for you.

01 Today Is Gonna Be A Great Day (Theme Song from Phineas and Ferb)

aspects of the show’s humor are aimed at adults, including its frequent pop-cultural references. co-creator Dan Povenmire, having previously written for Family Guy (which I don’t particularly care about), sought to create a show less raunchy, but with the same use of comic timing, employing humorous blank stares, expressionless faces and clever wording. Povenmire describes the show as a combination of Family Guy and SpongeBob SquarePants. Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the other co-creator, said the show was not created just for kids, but simply did not exclude them as an audience. Marsh calls the characters “cool, edgy and clever without […] being mean-spirited.” according to Povenmire, their animation director, Rob Hughes, agreed:

“in all the other shows every character is either stupid or a jerk, but there are no stupid characters or jerks in this one.”

I like that sort of messaging for my own family.

with your day good or bad, dance away with a wild jig. do it! Emma Jo and I certainly will.

“Hey Ferb, I know what we’re gonna do today.”

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

“Gentlemen, when the clock strikes seven o’clock on Saturday, January 29th the land of Princess-Ville awakens and the celebration begins. This night will be like no other as the great protectors called “knights in shining armour” whisk their Princess into a night of wonderment. This evening will be for you and your special Princess – your daughter, granddaughter, niece or the little girl who just makes your heart melt.”

[youtube]2ULcVdfbDiw[/youtube]

Register, here: http://sites.boosterthon.com/myprincessdance. Do it!

If you ask me, and many of you will, I’ll tell you to bring your date to a night filled with fun and all things “Princess”. To be sure, more details will follow after completing your online reservation.  Woody and company will  look forward to creating a special evening just for you.

My Emma Jo and I make this for an annual event. And, few other things generate as much excitement with her. This past Saturday we found ourselves at Macy’s picking out the “pretty dress”.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork