Art of Manliness - Latest Comments in Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Jennifer — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:53:31 -0000

I know the sweepstakes is over but I wanted to say how awesome my husband is when he became a father. He trusted in me to birth our children at home and believed I could do it. At a time when most hospitals and doctors are completely corrupt and run by the almighty dollar, my husband not only helped me through the whole 74 hours of labor (so far, we're not done yet) but also caught our daughters at the end. This perfect start at fatherhood assures me that he will continue to be awesome.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Anna Lege — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:36:17 -0000

My father always taught me that cleanliness is next to godliness.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Brandon Tyler — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:57:55 -0000

a life lesson your father taught you -
It is more blessed to give that to receive.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Ken — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:11:49 -0000

Things my father taught me.

Always fill the gas tank so mom doesn't have to.
Always make sure there is milk in the house and that the trash is outside.
When mom wants to go visit her mother, if you make it easy for her to go she will return sooner.
Get directions before you leave the house; it saves tears in the car.
Carry a pee can and phone book in the car for emergencies.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Steven Domoslay — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:12:30 -0000

A steak and Father's Day are as American as Mom and apple pie. None better than Outback Steakhouse to do the festivities.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Anthony Piselli — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:01:00 -0000

My father taught me patience and tolerance...if you only knew my Mother...When he moves on he should be guaranteed angels wings!

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Phil Anderson — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:31:57 -0000

My dad said, " KEEP IT ZIPPED! ' I can't tell you why he said it, but it was the best advice I've ever received...

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

RS — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:41:53 -0000

My father always said son, "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason" as in listen twice as much as you speak. Simple and effective.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Richard P. Strickland — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:17:50 -0000

My Dad taught me to stick around and nuture my children. You see, I did the opposite of what he did.
I grew up with no adult supervision. The only way I knew what should be done was by watching Father's Knows Best, Leave it to Beaver and other show like those.

I am the father of 2 boys and three girls who are all grown and have families of their own. Not one of them are dependent on any government handouts. They all contribute to sociaty in very positive ways.

I feel that my fathere, although he was not there, he did me a favor and made me the roll model I am today for my children and others.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Garfield — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:25:55 -0000

I love Outback!!!

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Ryan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:46:05 -0000

I can attribute any success that I have achieved or will achieve in this life to my father in some way. From a very early age he instilled in me a work-ethic that has served me well in all areas of my life. My father devoted so much time to raising me in a respectable manner that it is a wonder he had time to take care of himself.

From the time I was born my father was 100% involved in my upbringing. Getting my dad to spend time with me was never an issue. I remember wrestling matches, movie nights, trips to the park, board games, and all kinds of sports. My dad got me involved in what I consider to be one of the pillars of my upbringing- baseball. Being a ball fanatic and successful player himself he was a wealth of information and experience.

Being involved in competitive baseball meant year-round practices, summer responsibilities (when the rest of my friends were waking up at 1:00 PM I was traveling playing ball, going to practice, taking batting practice, etc.) and exposure to hard work, failure, commitment, and adversity. I remember at times being frustrated because so much of my time was spent playing baseball that I didn't have time to pursue other things. However, my dad never forced me to play. I could have quit at any time. He was NOT one of those fathers who lived vicariously through his children's athletics.

He was a father, but also a coach who pushed me as a player and as a young man. My father coached many of my teams, which meant taking time off of work, throwing batting practice (like a real pitcher), knee surgeries, expenses, and more. I know that sometimes my father looks back on those times and wonders if he pushed too hard- But I look back to those times as the reason that I have the work-hard attitude that I do today and do not crumble in the face of adversity. Baseball gave me something productive to devote my time to, and an outlet to observe hard work and the payoff associated with it.

A disciplinarian at times my father clearly taught me right from wrong. At times I would get mad when I was punished, but I now realize it was for my own good. I can attribute my strong moral fiber to my father's guidance and example.

I also commend my father for providing a healthy home for me as a child --Healthy in many ways. He and my mother have always maintained a strong marriage. The ever present didactic of a harmonious mother and father was very important and reassuring. The majority of my friends are the products of divorced families, and I feel very fortunate to have never known that pain.

He also provided a healthy home for me in that he did not allow me to sit around idly, eating junk food. My father was and still is a great proponent of physical exercise and fitness. Whether it meant wind-sprints, baseball, lifting or other exercise he always encouraged me to go out and be active. He sits today at over 50 years old, still stronger and fitter than I am.

He also provided me with a healthy role-model. While growing up there were no bad habits in my home- no alcohol, no tobacco, no drugs, no addictions. He provided me with a healthy example of how to live.

To this day my father still makes sacrifices for me. He and my mother are currently footing the bill for an expensive college career. At times I feel guilty that my education is costing them so much. I know they have both made sacrifices to send me through school. Through his sacrifices my father has also taught me the virtue of generosity. He regularly donates money to charities as well as family members in need. He has never been one to stiff anybody out of something he owed them, and I know that he would give me the shirt off his back.

Well, the example of a lesson my father taught me is getting long-winded. I have hardly even scratched the surface about what a phenomenal job he did raising me. But I will leave it at this: I attribute most of the good things about my character in some way to my father's help and guidance.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

RPO — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:41:10 -0000

a pool float.. odd

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Cialis — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:50:11 -0000

So Father's day has gone and went and i did not give my father a gift certificate for steak. haha. instead i gave him sandals and a very nice and rather expensive almost recliner like pool float.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Joe — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:04:18 -0000

"Now son, you see, if you spread the super-glue very carefully, your Mother will never know."

Lesson learned.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Jinky Williams — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:28:09 -0000

My dad has been described as phenomenal.

I am 26, and we have been hanging out every other Monday for the better part of a decade, now. Go to Costco, go grab a burger, walk down at the marina, drive around, whatever. It's the relationship and time spent that matters.

My dad has taught me, by words and actions, what it means to be a man, a father, a wife. A warrior, king, mentor and friend.

I have seen him fall, and I have seen him get back up. I have seen him not isolate himself, but rather engage himself in a network of support and accountability. He has people who mentor him, iron which sharpens iron, and those who (like me) he pours life into.

He lays his life down on the line continually. And I do not mean just that he is willing to die so that others may live. I think that many, many people would accede to that. For what do you have to worry about after you die? No, his laying down of his life is the constant putting the needs of others before his own wants and desires. It is a daily thing.

From the time that I was born, I have memories of him supporting whatever it is my heart wanted to do. I played soccer, and he and my mom would go to all my games, would go to every practice that he could. He would show up early sometimes just to watch me.

He would engage himself in whatever I was interested in. Though he only had a passing interest in video games, he would sit on the couch and watch me play them. He would play chess with me when I pulled it out, though he knew I usually wouldn't last the full game.

He has always been right there at my side, ready to support me. On several occasions (more than I like to admit), I locked my keys in my car where I worked, which was more than 25 miles from where he lived. Yet he drive up through rush hour traffic, handed me the key, and would drive back. Or we would both get in the car, grab a burger, and have more hang-out time on the drive back, and he would, if he could, offer to drive me back up the next morning, and then have to drive back down to his work, further south than he lived. My car would run out of gas on the way to work, and he would be there as soon as he could, dropping whatever he was doing at work.

I can only recall him raising his voice once at me or my sister. He is a man who knows that he who shouts is lost, and puts it into practice. When he would discipline us, he would always strive in his attempt to make sure we understood the principle behind it, why he didn't agree with our course of action, and always tried to make the discipline logical to the offense. And, most importantly, discipline was never an end in itself; it was a means to the end of restoration and getting back on the right track, or affecting a much-needed course adjustment.

He and my mom have held a unified front that rivals any that I've ever seen in any other household. Very rarely was there anything that approached a heated discussion in front of my sister and I. Any "internal affairs" communications would happen behind closed doors, and they would arrive at a conclusion together and, in unity, approach us with the answer. But it was never a hiding game, just painting on a false front. My mom and my dad were a team, and they acted (and still act) like it.

When I was growing up, my friends all thought that my dad was cool. Not because he wore shades and designer shirts, or because he was some game show host. He was cool because he was relevant to their lives. He met them where they were at, and treated them with the respect that they yearned for. He showed genuine interest in their lives, and would open communication with them. He would be sure to come out to where we were and greet them by name, offer to carry sleeping bags and whatnot.

A theme in his life that he has attempted (with great success, as far as I am concerened) to drill into the heads of my sister and I is that life should always be about restoration, and all things should be done in accordance with that rule. Restoration of heart, restoration of soul. It deeply permeates his actions, and the genuine care that he displays to everyone is unmistakable.

My dad is also a handyman, who has fixed many, many things over the years. And he was always inviting me to actively participate in the repair process. He had no issues with taking three times as long to get something fixed if it meant that I had learned something from the experience.

He has always been someone I can talk to about anything at all. He will listen to me and consider what I have to say. He doesn't just bide his time while I'm talking, waiting until the moment I'm done to come back with the reply he's had ready to go since the first word out of my mouth. He carefully considers the counsel that he dispenses.

He has told me time and time again that one of his biggest wishes for me and my sister is that we surpass him in every single way. He desires the best for us; desires better than he can give us, and he knows that. He is a man who has full confidence of himself as a man, even when he does not know the answer to a question, when he cannot fix something. He is fully aware of his limitations, but still stands secure. It is why he can direct us to others; why he directs us to Jesus.

My dad is a man who embodies the heart of Christ better than anyone I've known. He finds his strength and solidarity in which to stand in his walk. My dad knows who he is.

When I grow up, I hope and pray that I am half the man that he is.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Vatt Saycocie — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:44:39 -0000

I'm a first time dad this year of a four-month old. The lesson I learned from my father was to always be there for your child no matter what. I've applied that lesson to my son and all my time goes to him. It's an awesome feeling! I'm also hungry these days so a nice steak dinner would help!

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

another Brandy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:07:53 -0000

During my teenage years, my dad repeatedly told me that he was my father, not my friend, which seemed to me at the time a completely asinine thing to say. Of course I wouldn't be friends with such an out-of-touch asshole.

Looking back and comparing where I am emotionally and physically to my friends who had parent-friends, I can see that he was exactly right -- and that's what I strive to be for my children, a parent, not a friend.

Thanks, dad.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

brandy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:49:12 -0000

blogged ya
http://notimemom.wordpress....

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

brandy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:48:25 -0000

me and my father always had a saying when i was younger "no sweat no strain, no power no pain" if you work hard enough you'll be happy about your accomplshments. not so much on what you had to go through to do it.

another good advice is he always said never depend on a man. ( no offense o anyone) but you should always have a backup plan incase something where to happen. death, divorce, seperation etc. make sure you have a education, maybe a job,

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Mark Loest — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:49:30 -0000

When I was a kid a friend needed me to help out delivering his newspapers while he was on vacation. I agreed to help him out. For two long, hot summer weeks I did his route. When he got back he paid me, and when I showed my Dad the money he made me give it back. It wasn't mine, he said; it was my friend's paper route and his money. I had simply helped him out.
Dad taught me the difference between profiting from a person's situation and genuinely helping him out.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Fotios — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:46:24 -0000

When I was a kid, my father used to make my brother and I do yard work, do projects around the house, and generally help him with the chores. I hated it as a kid. He never forced us or yelled at us to work, but asked us, and we couldn't say no, no matter how much we didn't want to. As we got older, he still asked us, but we started to get too busy with school and sports and girls. He would still be out there by himself doing the work, but it would take him hours longer. I remember coming back from a lacrosse game, all bruised and sore and soaked from the rain, and he was out there in that trying to put up some fencing that had gotten knocked down. I felt so bad that I wasn't there to help him that I dropped everything and nearly got hypothermia helping him. But I knew it meant so much to him. And it was at that point that I realized he didn't have us help him because we made the work easier on him, I mean how much can a 5 year old really do in a wood shop? Well we helped clean, but we also watched everything he did. He did it because he wanted to be around us and to share what he knew.

Sure he came to the sporting events and Boy Scout outings. He was in tears speaking at mine and my brother's Eagle Scout ceremony (I waited almost 2 years to have mine just to have it together). But it was those days working in the yard that truly made me understand what it meant to be a dad. When I got to college and it came time to patch up a hole some drunk put in the wall, or to build a coffee table for the living room, or to just make something for the sake of making it, I was surprised to find out that nobody else who had "good" dads knew how to do anything of the sort.

My dad is a small business owner and works 363 days a year (they are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day). But every time my brother and I came home from college, I was right there helping him. Not because I wanted to do the work or needed the $20 he would give me, but because I got to be closer to him.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Sandi — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:50:13 -0000

My Dad is fantastic! What always amazed me was his patience. From helping me with a detailed art project in Junior High to practicing the driving maneuverability course for my license (over and over and over). When there was a problem, he always looked the situation over and then calmly started fixing it.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Bill V. — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:20:43 -0000

Dad's life lesson:

if you need to be somewhere, but don't necessarily want to:
- Show up
- Shut up (don't whine about it)
- Get it over with
- Then do something you want to (redemption)

It's gotten me through a number of worthless meetings.

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

chantix — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:32:04 -0000

My dad never let me go to work with him! He owns a gas station and claimed it was "no place for a lady". i was 10: Bring the kid with ya once and be done!!!

Re: Father’s Day Giveaway! $25 Gift Certificate to Outback Steakhouse

Ryan P. — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:21:17 -0000

My dad would always take me to construction jobs he was working and then work my guts out. I always liked going with him and I got to use a lot of cool power tools, but he was also teaching me that he didn't want me doing what he did for a living and I should go to school and get an education.

You all have my dad to blame for the creation of another lawyer in the world.