Friday Funhouse: June 29, 2012

This week on TheIsleOfMan.Net:

On Monday, I posted a slideshow commemorating my wife's first 33 weeks of pregnancy

On Tuesday, I posted Vol. 4 of "When Life Karate Kick You in the Face"

On Wednesday, I guest posted at SomeWiseGuy.com about how awesome my dad is

On Thursday, I posted about all the weird stuff I'm still learning about babies

Today, we enjoy some Funhouse.

More Weird Stuff I Never Knew about Babies

Photo courtesy of Flickr user National Media Museum

Since Kim has been pregnant, I have been receiving emails from WhatToExpect.com. Not because I signed up for them, but because Kim signed me up.

Not that I'm complaining. The emails have taught me all kinds of cool things.

For instance, this week I received an email that included the following information:

"If your little doughboy is, well, a boy, then you'll be pleased to know that this week his testicles are making their way down from his abdomen to his scrotum."

First off, why are you calling my kid a "doughboy?"

Second what were his testicles doing in his abdomen? That's just ridiculous.

Either way, I'm glad to hear that they're making the voyage to the nether regions, where they belong. Good for him. My son isn't even born yet and he's making his dear-old-dad proud.

I digress. (I do that a lot.)

Here's where you come in.

Do you have kids? If you answered "yes" to that question, then you're an expert on childbirth. Well, you're more of an expert than I am, anyway.

Tell me one thing you learned via the birth of your first child that no one ever told you. That way, I'll be totally prepared and nothing will surprise me.

Here's what I know so far (just so you don't feed me old news):

- Some babies come out looking like coneheads, but their domes go back to a normal shape, shortly thereafter.

- Umbilical cords pulsate until they're done performing their task. It's better to wait to cut the cord till the pulsating is done.

- The circumcision takes place in the hospital, before we take our baby home. (Yes, I actually didn't know that until a few days ago.)


So tell me something I don't know!   

Guest Post at SomeWiseGuy.com: Ready or not...here comes fatherhood

Today I'm guest posting at K.C. Procter's SomeWiseGuy.com, as I was asked to take part in K.C.'s "Dad Week," a whole week of posts relating to fatherhood.

Here's an excerpt from my post:

Luckily, I've had a good role model to take notes from. Not everyone is that blessed, but I've been fortunate enough to have a father who showed me what it meant to lead in love.

My dad is Robert Emmet Haggerty. He's the son of Irish immigrants, a heritage of which I've always been proud. He's a high school English teacher, as well as the pastor of a small Baptist church in Virginia.

Check out the rest of the post HERE.

When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face: Vol. 4

Photo by Flickr user Teuobk

Over the past few weeks, I've been letting you guys behind the curtain of my life, so to speak, with a series of posts called When Life Karate Kick You in the Face. If you need to get caught up on the first three volumes, click HERE.

The short synopsis is this:

- I was laid off from my job of six years.
- My wife is 30-plus weeks pregnant.
- My wife recently quit her job.

That's about the shape of things.

To this point, I've been positive. I've tried to share motivational words and blog posts that will encourage you if you are or ever find yourself in a similar position. But encouraging words only go so far. Eventually, you need to come up with a gameplan:

A Reflection on 33 Weeks of Pregnancy (VIDEO)

Photo by Megan Smith

Kim is starting week 34 of her pregnancy. It's the last leg of the race. It could happen in six weeks, it could happen tomorrow.

And yet, I'm astonished that it's gone this fast.

I remember the day she showed me the positive pregnancy test. I remember the first doctor visit where we heard the heartbeat, and it became real to me for the first time. I remember when I first started noticing the changes to Kim's body.

And in the blink of an eye, it's almost over. He's almost here, and I don't know where the time went.

I wanted to do something to commemorate the journey, so I put together a slideshow, cataloging each step of the way.

This is more of a surprise for my wife, but I decided to let you all in to the exclusive party and see it too. Why not? You've shared all the rest of it with me, right? You've all kind of become like a second family.

You're my internet family.

So here it is. It's unlikely to win any awards. It's not professionally done. It was a labor of love that took me hours.

It's 33 weeks condensed into five minutes and 23 seconds.

Enjoy:

Guest Post for IntrovertedChurch.com

I've always been an introvert, but I didn't know that. And no one told me that. I always just thought I was weird. And that's pretty much how people treated me.

As a kid I was painfully shy. As I got older, I was convinced I had Social Anxiety Disorder.

Turns out, I'm just an introvert. I wish I'd known sooner. I wish I'd known that was okay. I can't go back in time, but what I can do is share my experience, with the hopes that others, who are in the boat I was in years ago, will be able to learn from my past and learn to accept themselves for who they are.

Introverts are not weird. They're not better or worse (though a compelling argument could be made for "better"). They're just different, but they're the way God made them.

Today, Adam McHugh's IntrovertedChurch.com is running a guest post I wrote on this very topic. Check it out HERE.

Friday Funhouse: June 22, 2012

Before I recap the week that was, I'd like to ask a request on behalf of friend of mine. My buddy, Chad Jones, is pursuing the opportunity to attend a Ransomed Hearts event, but he's a little shy of the funds needed to get there.

Chad is a quality guy, and Ransomed Hearts is a quality event. He's not far from reaching his goal. Times are tough, but if we all give 5-10 bucks, I think we can get him there by the end of the day. 

To find out how you can get Chad to his goal, click HERE.

Here's what went down this week on TheIsleOfMan.Net:

- On Monday, I reached into the 'oldie-but-a-goodie' bag to re-hash "Top Signs You Might Be a Jerk"

- On Tuesday, I shared my list of Top 5 Things I've Learned about Pregnancy as an expectant father

- On Wednesday, I posted Vol. 3 of "When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face"

- On Thursday, we talked about watching TV with your spouse can strengthen your marriage

As always, I'd like to encourage you to subscribe to my e-mail list and get a free copy of my book, HERE. I'd love it if you "Liked" my Facebook page, followed me on Twitter and on Pinterest and subscribed by RSS, here. If you could do any or all of that, I'd love you more than Emily Maynard loves to tell guys she really is feeling a connection with them.

Bring on the Funhouse!

Study Shows Watching TV Together Strengthens Marriages

Photo by Flickr user Deannster

I'm gonna shoot you straight. There was no study done on this subject, whatsoever. 

Well, I take that back.

There might have been, but I didn't read it. Because studies are boring, and I'm not in school anymore. So when people start giving me statistics and percentages and random inane facts, my brain goes to sleep like a computer that has been inactive for too long.

It's like my brain has a screensaver.

You'd never know. I look like I'm awake and I'm listening to you, but I'm totally wondering what it would look like if a dolphin ever tried to rob a convenience store, using an 80's slap bracelet and a rubik's cube.

Anyway.

I've never read any studies about the impact watching TV with your spouse has on your marriage. What I have done is I have watched TV with my wife.

It's something we do on a fairly regular basis. Some people go on hikes. Some couples cook together. All that is fine and good, but I think those people are failing to recognize the awesomeness of television.

Kim and I have no problem appreciating this fact.

What are our favorite shows to watch together?

I'm glad you asked.

When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face: Vol. 3

Photo by Flickr user ColKorn1982

Last week, I started a series of posts titled, "When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face." If you need to get caught up, you can check out the first two posts in the series HERE.

The short version is that I was laid off from my job recently. Additionally, I have a very pregnant wife and we just bought a house several months ago.

As if that wasn't enough, we had to make a very difficult and stressful decision last week. It's a decision that I believe will lead to ultimate happiness, but that road is probably going to bring us through a tumultuous valley.

The Top Five Things I've Learned About Pregnancy

Photo by Flickr user Flequi

On August 12, my first child, my son, Aidan Robert, is scheduled to leave his mother's womb and enter into the world. 

It's a due date, not an exact science. In all likelihood, he won't come on that exact day, but it will be somewhere in that neighborhood.

It's exciting...and terrifying...and exciting.

The pregnancy process has been highly educational. My wife has probably been the most studious pregnant woman of all time. 

If she's not reading one of her books about pregnancy, she's reading an article about breast-feeding. It's great, and I'm glad she's retaining it all, because my brain is seemingly incapable of absorbing all the complicated information.

I've tried. Swear to goodness, I have. It's just that once I start getting a few paragraphs into a blog post about what kind of fruit my baby currently resembles, I just kinda...space out. 

But I did manage to hang on to a few choice morsels of information along the ride.

After the jump, I'm gonna give you my list of the top five things I've managed to learn about pregnancy. But before I do, can I ask a favor?

There are several things you can do for me today that will only take a few seconds, but would mean a lot to me.

If you enjoy TheIsleOfMan.Net, here are a few ways you can show your appreciation, however moderate it may be:

1) Subscribe via email. You can do that by clicking HERE, or by simply entering your email address in the box in the upper portion of the right sidebar. It's easy to do, you'll get my e-book for free, and I promise not to spam you.

2) "Like" TheIsleOfMan.Net's Facebook page, HERE.

3) Follow me on Twitter HERE.

4) Re-tweet my posts. Start with today's. It takes literally two seconds, but it means a lot to me. you don't even have to be imaginative. I did the work for you. At the bottom of each post is a button with the Twitter icon on it. Click it. Send the tweet. It's almost too easy. (Also, if you'd like to share the posts on Facebook or Re-pin on Pinterest, that would be equally spectacular!)

I write because I enjoy it, and because I hope that people who read my posts will enjoy it too. I don't ask for anything in return, other than that you tell other people about this site, if you really do enjoy it.

Commercial over. Here are the top five things I've learned about pregnancy:

From the Archives: 'Top Signs You Might Be a Jerk'

A real friend is someone who will tell you when you have a booger hanging out of your nose. 

It's true, but sometimes, even our real friends don't have the heart to be honest with us about our serious character flaws.

Maybe you've suspected it. You feel it, deep down. You think you're a pretty decent dude or dudette, but there's just this voice that asks a question from within your consciousness:

"Am I a jerk?"

No worries. I've got ya covered. After the jump, I've got the full guide with in-depth analysis that will help you figure out if you are, indeed, a jerk.

Check it out:

Friday Funhouse: June 15, 2012

This week, I started a new series of posts called "When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face." I wrote the first two volumes, which you can check out HERE and HERE.

I also was blessed to be able to guest post, along those same lines, at Jon Stolpe's "stretched" blog. You can check out that guest post, titled: Learning to Count to Five.

Additionally, I was given the privilege of recording the intro for the latest episode of The Courtesy Laugh podcast, which can be found HERE. The weekly show features the talents of Jared Hollier, Joseph Craven, Knox McCoy and Tyler Tarver -- all tremendously funny dudes. If you haven't listened to it yet, you're only cheating yourself.

Bring on the Funhouse:

When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face: Vol. II

I don't know what preceded professional wrestler Ric Flair being kicked in the face, in the above picture, by Hulk Hogan.

What I do know, is that Flair, almost undoubtedly, got back up off the mat in an overtly dramatic fashion, let out a loud: "Whooooooo!", to the delight of the crowd onhand, and then got back into the fight.

That's what Ric Flair did. He was one of "The Four Horsemen." He was an icon. When he got knocked down, he almost always got back up again.

I've never fought Hulk Hogan, but I did get knocked down recently.

Guest post for JonStolpe.com: 'Learning to Count to Five'

Everything Starts Where It Ends

Unlike a lot of people, I was one of the seemingly few who was not happy with the way the TV series LOST ended.

I devoted years of my life to the show. There were so many questions and mysteries. I felt like the series finale was a cop out.

The questions didn't really get answered. The mysteries weren't resolved.

But I have a hard time being totally mad at the show.

We had good times together, even if it didn't wrap up the way I wanted it to.

One of the great aspects of the show was the multitude of great characters who all had incredible depth and stories that made you care about what happened to them.

My favorite character was Jack Shephard.

When Life Karate Kicks You in the Face: Vol. I

One of the most monumental moments, ever, in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA), was the night that UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva knocked out Vitor Belfort with a front kick to the face, when the two fought at UFC 126, in Las Vegas, on Feb. 5, 2011. 

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, check this out:

It wasn't the first time someone has been knocked out in the UFC. It wasn't the first time someone's been kicked in the head either. But the timing and precision of the way it came together made it a thing of beauty.

But not for Vitor Belfort.

For Belfort, it was one of the worst moments of his career. No fighter trains for months, spends countless hours away from his family, denies himself the pleasure of the food and beverages he loves...just so he can get knocked out by a karate kick in the very first round.

Sometimes life can be like that. 

Friday Funhouse: June 8, 2012

Last Friday, we had a contest. All you had to do was RT the blog post. It was pretty much the easiest contest to win of all time.

Here were the winners:

- Kat Morrissette & Jen Deibel both won copies of Jeff Goins' new book, You Are a Writer.

- Jon Stolpe and Jon Hansen each won free shirts from OurShirtsDontSuck.com. 

- Andrea Ward won a free leather journal from OurShirtsDontSuck.com. 

- I also have two invites to Gentlemint.com to give away that are currently unclaimed. If you want them, just be the first to say so in the comment section for today's post.

Here's a recap of the past week, just in case you missed it:

On Monday, I wrote a guest post for AndiLit.com about what it means to be successful as a writer. 

On Tuesday, I showed off new, 4-D pictures of my kid.

On Wednesday, I guest posted at RandomlyChad.com about the superiority of America.

On Thursday, I was honest about 3 things that embarrass me.

Now, on to today's shenanigans, tomfoolery and straight-up fanstasticality:

Three Things That Embarrass Me

I gotta be honest with you guys. I do some really dumb stuff. I try to be cool, but sometimes, I fail miserably.

Today, I'm sharing three things that embarrass me right into the "facepalm" position. Hopefully, it will be good for group healing. If nothing else, you can make fun of me and the world will be better for it.

So here goes nothin':

1) I recently started watching The Bachelorette. I didn't want to. I've avoided those shows for years. But after seeing Knox McCoy's tweets and recaps, I got lured in. I watched the first two episodes on Hulu, then watched the last two episodes, Live, on TV. I'm sucked in. I just can't help it. When you put that amount of dumb and douchey people together, I'm held hostage with no other choice but to watch. Seriously, you guys.

2) I bite my nails. It's terrible. I bite them until they're down to cuticles, and then I bite some more. They bleed occasionally, and the whole process annoys the heck out of my wife. I just do it all the time and don't even think about it. I know it's awful. It is what it is.

3) I've gotten massively out of shape over the past year. Within the past twelve months, I've gained about 20 pounds, and am athletically incapable of just about everything. Today, I got back on a workout routine and it KICKED...MY...BUTT. I didn't even do that much, but compared to the "nothing" I'd been doing, it was a big upgrade. I'm committing to this. It's got to become part of my life again.


What are three things that embarrass you right now?

Guest-post at RandomlyChad.com: "Why America is Awesomer than Canada"

I know it's a swan. Work with me.

I'm guest posting today over at Chad Jones' RandomlyChad.com, with a satire piece about America's superiority over Canada. It's all in good fun, and besides, Canada fired the first shot. I claim self-defense.

At any rate, I'd love it if you headed over to read read the site, leave a comment (or three!) and possibly share the post on Twitter and Facebook, if you enjoy it...or if you don't.

Check out the post HERE!

Aidan Robert Haggerty: A 30 Week 4D Ultrasound

Smile for the camera!

Today, I come before you, not as a blogger or an author. Nay, I am much more than that. Today, I am posting as a proud father!

If you've been hanging out for a while, it's not news to you that Kim and I are expecting our first child, a son, Aidan Robert Haggerty, on (or close to) August 12.

Yesterday, we, along with several friends and family members, traveled to Fun Fetal Photos (unpaid plug), in Hampton, Virginia, where we were able to see a 4-D Ultrasound of our baby. It was awesome.

The highlight was seeing him smile. I've never really experienced anything like it. It was my baby boy...smiling at me! Albeit, it was through the use of electric contraptions and through a mass of placenta, but still, amazing.

You guys couldn't be there, but you would have been, right?

We're friends, and friends share with each other. So I decided to show you some of my favorite pictures from the 4-D Ultrasound.

Check it out:

Guest Post for Andilit.com: "How Badly Do You Want to Succeed?"

I'm really excited to be guest-posting today at AndiLit.com, a fantastic resource site for writers that is run by my friend Andrea Cumbo. If you don't check out her site regularly, you really need to. You should also follow her on Twitter.

For interested writers, Andrea runs a very insightful Twitter chat, every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. ET. If you ever are curious and want to tap into the wellspring of knowledge and community of other writers, just use the hashtag #WriteStuff. You won't be disappointed!

My post today has to do with a story I heard recently. It's also a bit of me sharing my heart and experience as I continue to try and find my way as an unemployed writer.

Interested?

Check out my post, "How Badly Do You Want to Succeed," HERE.

Friday Funhouse: June 1, 2012

This week was my first full week out of school. Let me tell ya, it's been straight up incredible.

Have you been checking in to The Isle this week? If not, here's what you've missed:

On Monday, I wrote a vulnerable post about God closing doors.

On Tuesday, we had a discussion about fears that eat at us.

On Wednesday, I guest posted at TMZ about the time I got lost in Yosemite.

On Thursday, I guest posted at Ed Cyzewski's place about being a worship leader

Which brings us to today, the first Friday Funhouse we've had in a few weeks. I missed it. Hopefully you did too. To commemorate the fact that the Funhouse is back, I'm giving some stuff away. I've got two awesome shirts and a leather journal from OurShirtsDontSuck.com to give to you, for FREE. I'm giving away TWO Kindle versions of Jeff Goins' new book, You Are a Writer. I've also got two invites to Gentlemint.com to give away.  

All you have to do is RT this post on Twitter, anytime between now and Sunday night. I'll announce winners on Sunday. Your tweet must include a link to this post, and must also mention my Twitter username. When you've done, let me know in the comment section. I will DM or email the winners in the order they are randomly selected and will ask for their preference regarding the prize they receive.

One last thing.

The other day, I watched Machine Gun Preacher, a movie starring Gerard Butler about Sam Childers, a man who, after a life of crime and substance abuse, gave his life to God and devoted himself to doing great work in Africa with the orphans and survivors of terrible atrocities. 

I don't do causes often, but when I find something I really believe in, I tend to latch onto it. I know you're busy, and you probably wouldn't like to be confronted with awfulness, but it's there, whether you face it or not. 

I'd like you to do two things:

1) Watch this video:

2) Go to: http://www.machinegunpreacher.org/donate/ and give. Give $5. Give $500. Give what you can afford but give something. It's a fantastic cause, and I'd consider it a personal favor if you guys got behind it. But don't do it for me. Do it for the orphans and victims in Sudan and all over Africa who cannot fend for themselves.

Now on to the best of the internet from the past week: