The first Father's Day message was carved in clay by a young Babylonian boy name Elmesu nearly 4,000 years ago. His wish for his father was to have good health and a long life. Throughout time men have been a source of protection, comfort, inspiration, education  and love for their children and often for many other youngsters.  Fathers, whether by nature or deeds deserve this day to commemorate their importance to children or all ages. Not until 1909 was a day set aside to honor Fathers.  And this came about through the effort of Sonora Dodd who dreamed up the idea to honor her father and other fathers. William Jackson Smart, Sonora's father, had raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. A Mother's Day sermon at Sonora's church near her home in Washington State, reminded her about the sacrifices her father had made for his children and the fine job he had done in raising them.  Because her father had been born in June, she decided to encourage the churches in her area to honor fathers in June. Through her efforts, the first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in June 1910. Print a World's Best Father Certificate and give it to your dad.    "Ideally, they should give you a couple of 'practice kids' before you have any for real. Sort of like bowling a few frames for free before you start keeping score. Let you warm up." — Paul Reiser   US to spend $10 billion this Father's Day It's not always easy to figure out what to buy for your dad. Dear old dad can expect a little bit more this year in the way of gifts. The big day for dads is coming up and Americans are ready to spend their money buying Father's Day gifts despite the financial toll gas prices are taking on their pocketbooks. According to figures from the National Retail Federation, we'll spend some $10 billion on Father's Day this year. That's an average of $98 for people who plan to celebrate their dads. Almost 70 percent of celebrants will purchase a Father's Day greeting card making this the most common purchase. More than 40 per cent of people will treat pop to a dinner out according to the survey. But what does dad actually want? Discover Card surveyed dads and found out more than half of them would love a special dinner at their favorite restaurant. Other than food dads like the convenience of gift cards. Forty-three per cent of fathers said they'd like to get some spending money at their favorite stores on their special day. But you don't have to spend a lot to make dad happy. More than a third of fathers said a home-made gift would be just fine for father's day.   “You know, I always told you boys that sports aren't important, but they are." —Martin Crane, on Frasier   What younger dads can learn from older dads For next week's special day, an author shares learned knowledge with a new generation of fathers. By Philip Lerman When you're 50 and the father of a toddler, like me, you realize there are lots of reasons for having kids at a much younger age. The stamina to chase a screaming, naked toddler around the house for two hours, for starters. And a younger man's heartfelt (if overly optimistic) belief that you can control the world around you. You may love tech toys, but don't lose your kid in the iPod shuffle. But knowing there are forces beyond your control -- at the office, in the universe and especially around a toddler's feeding time -- is just one advantage of being an older dad. There are lots more of us than there used to be. Since 1980, the number of men in their 40s having children has increased nearly 30%. For Father's Day, we whose homes are littered with both pacifiers and reading glasses have decided to pass along to you younger dads a few things it has taken us years to learn. Here's the typical younger dad's view of the world today -- tempered with an older dad's perspective. Younger dad: It's not that big a deal if my cellphone is stuck to my hip more than my child is. Older dad: Today's younger dads are armed with more com devices than Jack Bauer -- but between your e-mail, IMs, ringing cellphone, incessant checks of the BlackBerry and updating your MySpace page, you can lose your kid in the iPod shuffle. Your job now has access to you 24/7; your kid needs the same. Don't be so distracted by the chatter of your life that you can't hear the chatter of your children. Younger dad: I know I should spend more time at home, but if I don't get this promotion, we're doomed. Older dad: According to a 2004 CareerBuilder.com survey, more than two-thirds of working fathers are spending in excess of 40 hours a week at work, and 25% work more than 50 hours each week. In trying to be more involved at home and get ahead at the job, working dads these days face a dilemma that working moms have struggled with for years: How do you juggle the increasing demands of the office with your desire to be a better father? Balance -- it's not just for mothers anymore. At our age, we've seen too many friends spend their kids' wonder years clawing their way up the corporate ladder, working late hours and missing the whole thing. Vow to be home for dinner at least three days a week. Or tell the boss you have to leave early tomorrow because you have "a thing" you have to do. Then go pick up your kids from school. Younger dad: I've got a digital camera, tunes and coffee maker; Junior will love this stuff later! Older dad: Younger dads love digital toys. If they could digitally change diapers, they would. Don't pass that on to your kids: Experts say toys without batteries are essential for a child's development. They may scream, "We want a Wii!" -- literally, all you have to do is log on to YouTube these days and you can find toddlers playing video tennis -- but blocks and balls and paints and dolls are still the best. Younger dad: I watched Batman cartoons when I was little. The ones on TV now can't be that bad. Older dad: When it comes to TV technology, remember that TiVo and other such devices are tools, not crutches. Man cannot parent by DVR alone. Have you seen the violence that passes for children's TV now? Way beyond what we once knew -- "G.I. Joe Sigma 6" and "The Batman" make Yosemite Sam look like H.R. Pufnstuf. Fortunately, there's actually some good TV out there -- try "Dora the Explorer" and "Little Einsteins." Watch what your kids watch and talk to them about it. You might learn something. Younger dad: My child wants to play all the time, but, come on -- can't it wait 'til the game's over? Older dad: The younger dad lives like he has all the time in the world -- still trying to make that great happy hour, get that great tee time. Here's what the Bald Dad Patrol has learned: Those things can wait. Something else cannot. You know that little girl crawling under the table, begging you to play while you're channel-surfing the many ESPNs? Better get under that table now. We're old enough to have been through this before, and in what will seem like about 17 seconds, a car horn will honk and off she'll zoom into the rest of her life. Enjoy it now. As the saying goes, when you have a baby, the nights are very long, and the years are very short. Philip Lerman is the author of the new book "Dadditude: How a Real Man Became a Real Dad" (Perseus Books Group, $19.95).     “My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass.’ ‘We’re not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We’re raising boys." —Harmon Killebrew   The Ultimate Father's Day Gift This is Samsung's 102-inch plasma TV.  While it is not ready for the mainstream market, you can buy the 80-inch model for a mere $125,000.     Majority of Dads Unhappy With Their Father's Day Gifts ShopLocal Survey Reports More Than Half of Fathers Have Never Received a Good Gift CHICAGO -- If you think dear old Dad is easy to please on Father's Day, think again. Remarkably, more than half -- 53 percent -- of fathers surveyed by ShopLocal report that they have never received a good gift. And yet 67 percent of gifters polled believe that Dad is generally pleased with his gifts. One explanation for this gift-giving generation gap: almost 40 percent of sons and daughters admit to waiting until the last minute to shop for their fathers. The online survey* from ShopLocal, the leader in multi-channel shopping services, also revealed that people generally find it easier to shop for Mom than for Dad; only 36 percent suggested Mom may be difficult to buy for compared to 64 percent implying a picky patriarch. Though spending on dads isn't meager ($8.6 billion a year), it trails spending on moms by nearly $3 billion annually. But despite their finicky nature, dads deserve to be rewarded with thoughtful gifts, according to shopping expert Eva Yusa, also known as "Eva the Shopping Diva," shopping expert and blogger for ShopLocal's comparison shopping Web site ShopLocal.com. "There are ways to show Dad how much you care when it comes to presenting him with a great Father's Day gift," said Eva. "Most people just don't know where to begin in shopping for Dad, which explains why many wait until the last minute. As a result, Dad is left with a lackluster gift." "This year start shopping for gifts earlier and don't forget to use creative thought in selecting that special something. Presents that stray from the norm are always a crowd pleaser," she added. Eva offers these rules to live by when shopping for dads: -- Avoid the mundane. A little extra thought and effort goes a long way when it comes to shopping. Stay away from expected items like books and golf clubs and opt for gifts that Dad would never buy for himself. For more traditional dads, buy a watch with an inscribed personalized message or update his wardrobe with stylish sportswear and cool sunglasses. If your Dad is tech-savvy, surprise him with a new gaming system such as the Nintendo Wii or upgrades for his car like a GPS system or satellite radio. -- Shop with emotion, not with dollar signs. If you can't buy your father the Ferrari he always wanted, do not fret. A smaller sentimental gift can tug at his heartstrings such as a homemade card or planting a flower garden. And to find the best deals around your neighborhood, visit a comparison shopping site like ShopLocal.com/ to save time and money. -- Look for special offers. This year, showcase your shopping savoir-faire by looking for peripheral bargains online like free shipping and gift wrap. This is an added value that is a great way to save a little extra cash. *ShopLocal distributed the survey electronically to ShopLocal.com's email subscribers in April 2007. Results were gathered from 3,632 respondents.     "If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right." — Bill Cosby   The Price of Talking One night a wife found her husband standing over their newborn baby's crib. Silently she watched him. As he stood looking down at the sleeping infant, she saw on his face a mixture of emotions: disbelief, doubt, delight, amazement, enchantment, and skepticism. Touched by this unusual display and the deep emotions it aroused, with eyes glistening she slipped her arms around her husband. "A penny for your thoughts," she whispered in his ear. "It's amazing!" he replied. "I just can't see how anybody can make a crib like that for only $96.50!"     See San Francisco From The Air Take the men in your life on a helicopter tour of San Francisco  Tours Above San Francisco    "My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person. He believed in me."   — Jim Valvano   Pork Ribs with Quick Barbecue Sauce If you're cooking on Father's day, these ribs will be a guaranteed success.  They are par-boiled before barbecuing, which will reduce the fat and ensure that they are fully cooked.  Serves 4 1kg (2lbs) pork ribs Boil the ribs in a large pan of boiling water for 10 mins. You can flavor the liquid with onion and ½ teaspoon of 5 spice powder. Drain and leave in the fridge until ready. Quick Barbecue Sauce 4 tablesp. tomato ketchup 1 tablesp. honey 1 tablesp. wine vinegar 1 tablesp. Worcestershire sauce dash of Tabasco salt and pepper To barbecue: Mix all the sauce ingredients together. Cook the ribs for 6 -7 mins on each side. Brush a little of the sauce over the ribs towards the end of the cooking time. Not barbecuing?  If you're cooking for Dad on his special day, check out the recipes in our Cyber Kitchen or try Big Al's Chicken below.      "My father had always said there are four things a child needs: plenty of love, nourishing food, regular sleep, and lots of soap and water. After that, what he needs most is some intelligent neglect."  — Ivy Baker Priest   Big Al's Chicken This flavorful marinade works well on breasts or thighs, and will keep your chicken perfectly moist.  Marinade: 1 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup egg substitute 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon ground paprika 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 1 tablespoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper   Chicken: 10  Foster Farms Skinless Chicken Thighs Directions: In a jar with a lid, combine the vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, egg substitute, garlic powder, paprika, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper. Close the lid, and shake to blend. Place chicken in a shallow glass baking dish. Pour about 3/4 of the marinade over it, and reserve the rest for basting. Cover chicken, and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight. Preheat grill for high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place chicken on the grill, and discard marinade from the dish. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear. Brush reserved sauce onto chicken just before serving.     However you spend Father's Day, please have a safe and happy holiday! Joanne Joanne L. Gardiner, Broker, e-PRO Contact Joanne Advantage Realty Advantage Mortgage Associates 3205 Whipple Road - Union City, California 94587 (510) 429-4800 San Francisco Bay Area  San Francisco East Bay Real Estate website: http://www.joannegardiner.com Our primary services in the San Francisco Bay Area are: East bay real estate,  Hayward real estate, Castro Valley real estate,  Danville real estate,  Dublin real estate,  Fremont real estate,  Newark real estate, Niles real estate, Pleasanton real estate, San Leandro real estate, San Lorenzo real estate, San Ramon real estate, Sunol real estate and Union City real estate.  The types of real estate in which we specialize are:  houses, homes, condominiums, townhomes, garden homes, PUDs, single family homes, manufactured homes, mobile homes, modular homes, duets, residential income property, duplexes, tri-plexes, four-plexes, small apartment complexes and special use properties. Alameda County Homes, Homes in Alameda County, Contra Costa County Homes, Homes in Contra Costa County, Castro Valley Homes, Homes in Castro Valley, Danville Homes, Homes in Danville, Dublin Homes, Fremont Homes, Homes in Fremont, Homes in Dublin, Homes in Hayward, Hayward homes, Newark Homes, Homes in Newark, Oakland Homes, Homes in Oakland, Pleasanton Homes, Homes in Pleasanton, San Leandro Homes, Homes in San Leandro, San Lorenzo Homes, Homes in San Lorenzo, San Ramon Homes, Homes in San Ramon, Sunol Homes, Homes in Sunol, Union City Homes, Homes in Union City. San Francisco Realty, San Francisco Bay Realty, San Francisco Bay Area Realty, Realty in San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay Realty, Bay Area Realty, homes in San Francisco bay area, homes in San Francisco East Bay.	~   Father's Day Traditions Father's Day is an important day world wide. It is a fine opportunity to honor the Dad's or Father's of the world.   In Australia, Father's Day is celebrated on the First Sunday in September.   Father's Day in Canada, is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.   In the U.K. Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.   In the United States it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.   Many Catholics call St. Joseph's Day, on March 19th, Father's Day because Joseph was the father of Jesus.   Another tradition of Father's Day is that of the Flowers, Red roses are worn on Father's Day to signify that one's father is living. White roses mean one's father has died.   “By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.” —Charles Wadsworth   History of Father's Day in The United States   Father's Day was first observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. Sonora Smart Dodd (Mrs. John B. Dodd) of Washington State proposed the idea in 1909 after she had attended a Mother's Day service. Mrs. Dodd wanted to honor her own father. William Smart, who had been a Civil War veteran, who raised six children after his wife died in childbirth. President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day in 1924. It took until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson declared the 3rd Sunday of June Father's Day officially in the United States of America, but this was only for one year. On April 24, 1972, Father's Day was assured annual recognition by Presidential Proclamation. In Australia, Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September.     Links Dedicated to Fathers Fathers.com  provides research-based training, practical tips and resources to help men be  involved fathers, grandfathers, and father figures their children need. The Fathers Network celebrates and supports fathers and families raising children with special health care needs and developmental disabilities. Christian Fathers Fathering from a Christian perspective. Catholic Fathers  Resources from Family Life Center International and St. Joseph Covenant Keepers for Catholic Dads Fathering Children What Does The Bible Say About Christian Fathers Stay at home Dads  Slowlane.com is the searchable online reference, resource and network for Stay At Home Dads (SAHD) and their families. Single Custodial Dads  Words of encouragement to single dads who have custody of their kids. Mr. Mom Dedicated to single fathers everywhere. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation  Free copy of "Helping non-custodial dads build a brighter future."   "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society." — Billy Graham Irritation, Aggravation & Frustration A boy asks his father to explain the differences among irritation, aggravation, and frustration. Dad picks up the phone and dials a number at random. When the phone is answered he asks, "Can I speak to Alf, please?" "No! There's no one called Alf here." The person hangs up. "That's irritation," says Dad. He picks up the phone again, dials the same number and asks for Alf a second time. "No -- there's no one here called Alf. Go away. If you call again I shall telephone the police." End of conversation. "That's aggravation." "Then what's 'frustration'?" asks his son. The father picks up the phone and dials a third time: "Hello, this is Alf. Have I received any phone calls?"    "When I was a kid, I used to imagine animals running under my bed. I told my dad, and he solved the problem quickly. He cut the legs off the bed." — Lou Brock Father's Day Links Enjoy Father's Day" is a site loaded with links dedicated to Fathers Father's Day Funology.  Play the cool Famous Fathers Word Search game. See who are Famous Fathers  Take the Famous Fathers Quiz. And, check to see what famous people were born on your father's birthday. Most popular boys names in 2002 - is you name on the list?  If you want to become a more informed Dad, then Fathers.com is worth visiting.   Wilstar's Father's Day celebration includes famous quotes about fathers, play a Word Search Game and  send an electronic greeting card.     Fun Stuff If your Dad is going to be in his boat on the bay he'll need these links: National Weather Service - SFBay - The National Weather Service's Bay Area Home Page.  Real Time San Franciso Bay Wind - Real-time graphic rendering of wind strength and direction.  Real Time San Francisco Bay Currents - Real-time graphic rendering of current strength and direction.   Northern California Marine Forecast  - synopsis of the Northern California marine forecast at a glance. Bay Adventures, located in beautiful Sausalito, is your resource for boating adventures and charters on the San Francisco Bay and beyond. Or, go with him whale watching on the San Francisco Bay. Can't go boating?  Take a look at these Wonderful Photographs of the San Francisco Bay and order the men in your life one of these awesome prints. Take Dad Out To A Ball Game How many of the 30 pro baseball games will your Dad watch from his easy chair this weekend? Here's the schedule. Better yet, take him to San Francisco and watch the Giants . . . win.  An easy way to get there is to take B.A.R.T. to San Francisco and get off at the Embarcadero Center and pick up a free transfer ticket, then go down one level inside the station to the trolly, which will stop right in front of Pac Bell Park - Truly an easy and fun way to go to the ball game. Or, take the East Bay Ferry Service or the Golden Gate Ferry. Both will take you right to the dock at Pac Bell Park. Or, take your Dad and Grandpa on a fun Day Trip.  There are a myriad of things to do in our  Bay Area Interests section. Or, give him a 12-month subscription to Netflix  www.netflix.com/GiftPurchase Or, go to Circuit City www.circuitcity.com or Best Buy www.bestbuy.com  and get him a top of the line TV with all the bells and whistles  More Fun Stuff Play online:   Play Word Search   Play online:   Play Sudoku online -- Choose degree of difficulty: Easy, Medium, Hard, or Evil. Play Sudoku   "Fatherhood, for me, has been less a job than an unstable and surprising combination of adventure, blindman's bluff, guerrilla warfare and crossword puzzle." — Frederic F. Van De Water   Your Birthdate Data Dragon  See historical MUSICAL events that coincide with your birthday. This Day In History  Like previous listings- what happened historically on any given day. On This Day  Also looks at events for a particular day. Famous Birthdays  Find out which celebrities share your special day! Chinese Zodiac This looks at the Chinese animal that shares your birth year; find the traits that describe you. Sign Compatibility Enter your birthday and that of an intended to see if according to the stars you are compatible. Horoscopes  Find out what your Horoscope is based on the sign of the Zodiac you were born under. Any Day In History  Historic Events & Birthdates that occurred on a SELECTED day of the year    ~

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