Adultitis Hospitals

Color Me Adultitis Free

girl-coloring

Fact: it is impossible to have Adultitis while drawing with a marker that is almost six feet long.

The picture above is from an art exhibit called “Color Me _______” at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art. It is the brainchild of Andrew Neyer and Andy J. Miller. The artists invited attendees to become collaborators by adding the color to their work. Oh how fun that looks!

I think Crayola needs to make super-sized crayons and markers, stat. I wonder if I could fit a box of 64 in my garage…

Removable Whimsy for Your Walls

blik_insomnia2

Kim and I are suckers for whimsy. Especially when it comes to home decor. No, seriously. It’s true.

So it should come as no surprise that we are in love with Blik, a company that makes removable wall decals. It’s the coolest way to add a dash of artistic whimsy to a room without having to possess any artistic ability. Wallpaper wishes it could be changed this easily. Talk about an easy way to transform your home or office into an Adultitis Hospital! Here are some of our favorites: Continue Reading →

Hey Congress. Legislate This.

I couldn’t agree more.

Imagine these being installed in airports.

Imagine these being installed in the offices of all law firms and insurance companies.

Imagine these being installed in every single government building, especially the ones in Washington, D.C.

I dare say that these could bring peace to the Middle East.

Get on it, Congress.

Darth Vader Goes to Disneyland

You know a place is a legit Adultitis Hospital if even Darth Vader can have a good time there.

Live Like the Flintstones – Buy Their House!

Actually, it’s Dick Clark’s house. But it’s real, and it’s in Malibu. The single-story Flintstones inspired home has one bedroom, two bathrooms, and views of the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. And it could be yours for a paltry $3.5 million.

According to this article, animal appliances are not included in the deal. But the home sits on a 22-acre property, so there should be plenty of room to build a garage for your foot-powered vehicle.

Which will probably be the only cars allowed in California soon.
Continue Reading →

Lessons from Children’s Letters to Santa

Earlier this year, while Kim and I were in Alaska, we had the unique opportunity to visit the North Pole. Technically, it was not the geographic version, but rather a small town near Fairbanks known as North Pole, Alaska. Continue Reading →

Where Superheroes Get Their Gadgets

Where do modern superheroes go to purchase the latest in high-quality crimefighting gear?

The Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company, of course. Continue Reading →

Gooey Goodness at the Grilled Cheese Grill

As I mentioned in a recent post about our first visit to Portland, one of my favorite parts about the city was the food carts. There are tons of these things, clustered in various locations, featuring cheap and yummy cuisine of all types. (Check out www.foodcartsportland.com for a better feel.)

My biggest problem was deciding where to eat. Continue Reading →

Disney World Believe It…Or Not.

I was in Disney World a few weeks ago, standing in line for a ride with Kim and Lucy. We were in Clearwater for a speaking program, and decided to take a day to drive over to Orlando to visit “Snow White’s House.” Fortunately, Snow was home, and was generous enough to take photos with Lucy. I marveled at how much more three-dimensional she looks in person.

And so I was in line, holding Lucy, who was holding a stuffed Snow White doll, when a familiar word caught my ear. Continue Reading →

EA #39: Top 10 Food-Related Adultitis Hospitals

In this episode of the Escape Adulthood Show, brought to you from studio 315 in Madison, Wisconsin, we list our Top 10 Food-Related Adultitis Hospitals. We also discuss doormats, a “no-stress school” in California, and a tournament we’re hosting designed to crown the All-Time Greatest Childhood Food. Just click “Play” to listen to the show… Continue Reading →

What Willy Wonka’s Wife Wears

Kim and I are in New York City for a conference. You can’t beat the energy and excitement level of the Big Apple. You never know who or what you’ll see.

Escape Plan Challenge #36 implores you to accessorize your wardrobe with a touch of childhood. If you wanted to forgo a “touch” of childhood and go all out for a full on “flood,” these Hershey-themed dresses might just be the ticket. Yes, the middle one is made entirely of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup wrappers (and check out the sweet — literally — belt made of Rolos):

A bona fide product of mirth. We saw these at the Willy Wonka-inspired Dylan’s Candy Bar, which is an Adultitis Hospital if we ever saw one. Sweet.

Visiting The National Museum of Play

Last week, Kim wrote about a recent trip to upstate New York. We were there for a speaking engagement and flew into Rochester, which is the home of the Strong National Museum of Play. This museum is a veritable Adultitis Hospital, and features many exciting exhibits, including the National Toy Hall of Fame. I have mentioned the Toy Hall of Fame on this blog no less that three times (here, here, and here), so it was a real treat to finally make a visit.

I had a chance to compile some highlights in video form. Feel free to take a virtual tour of the museum. How many of the toys featured in the video did YOU (or your kids) have? Continue Reading →

Tip of the Week: Photo Safari

This week’s Escape Plan challenge (aka our Tip of the Week) is #23: Photo Safari. Take a picture of the most childlike spot in town.

Sometimes you need a change of scenery. Sometimes you need to self-diagnose the ol’ Adultitis (or take the official intake here) and admit yourself into an Adultitis Hospital (aka a “childlike spot in town”).

A few weeks ago Jason and I were in Rochester, NY for some speaking gigs. We had heard that Rochester is home of the Strong National Museum of Play, which also houses the National Toy Hall of Fame. This definitely qualified for the “most childlike spot in town.” Exhibit after exhibit was filled to the brim with childlike fun and nostalgic time machines, whisking you back instantly. We really enjoyed seeing all of the toys inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame- everything from the teddy bear and Barbie to Lincoln Logs… and even the cardboard box! So much of it was hands-on… like the slinky and Lego exhibit. We even got to make crazy fantastical hats, celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

My favorite part, though, was walking up the stairs to 123 Sesame Street. Yep, they had a mock set of that magical street from childhood.

What a surefire way to Escape Adulthood!

So, where’s your most childlike spot in town? Leave a comment on the Escape Plan Blog and feel free to email me your picture.

Escape Plan TV #7: Pinnacle Peak Patio

In this episode of Escape Plan TV, filmed in Scottsdale, Arizona, Kim and Jason demonstrate several fun and exciting ways to annihilate the Adultitis in your life. The ideas are all based on the world-famous Escape Plan.

The duo goes on a photo safari to find the most childlike place in town and end up at the Pinnacle Peak Patio, a place where neckties are never safe! Continue Reading →

Escape Plan TV #6: San Diego Zoo

In this episode of Escape Plan TV, filmed in Madison, Wisconsin, Kim and Jason demonstrate several fun and exciting ways to annihilate the Adultitis in your life. The ideas are all based on the world-famous Escape Plan.

In this installment of Escape Plan TV, the duo visits the San Diego Zoo. After meeting some pandas and interviewing their keeper, Kim and Jason try some fish tacos and look for the perfect childlike souvenir. Continue Reading →

Escape Plan TV #5: Madison

In this episode of Escape Plan TV, filmed in Madison, Wisconsin, Kim and Jason demonstrate several fun and exciting ways to annihilate the Adultitis in your life. The ideas are all based on the world-famous Escape Plan.

So here’s what happens in this installment of Escape Plan TV: The duo takes a tour of an ice cream plant, goes shopping on State Street, tries on some, um, cheese, and spends some time lounging by Lake Mendota. Continue Reading →

Escape Plan TV #4: Northern California

In this episode of Escape Plan TV, filmed in various locations throughout Northern California, Kim and Jason demonstrate several fun and exciting ways to annihilate the Adultitis in your life. The ideas are all based on the world-famous Escape Plan.

So here’s what happens in this installment of Escape Plan TV: The duo walks across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, visits the Charles Schulz museum, and stops to say hi to some cows on the way to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Featuring music by Ethan Elkind. Continue Reading →

Escape Plan TV #3: Colorado Springs

Eplan TV 3 In this episode of Escape Plan TV, filmed in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Kim and Jason demonstrate several fun and exciting ways to annihilate the Adultitis in your life. The ideas are all based on the world-famous Escape Plan.

In this installment of Escape Plan TV, the duo gets fresh with a herd of giraffes (they have some crazy long tongues!), become rebels for a cause, and climb a really big mountain. Continue Reading →

Escape Plan TV #2: Clearwater

In this episode of Escape Plan TV, filmed in Clearwater, Florida, Kim and Jason demonstrate several fun and exciting ways to annihilate the Adultitis in your life. The ideas are all based on the world-famous Escape Plan.

In this installment of Escape Plan TV, the duo conducts a silly experiment, tries to fly a kite, and throws a spontaneous party. Continue Reading →

Escape Plan TV #1: San Francisco

Well, it’s finally here: the first ever episode of Escape Plan TV! In this inaugural installment, Kim and I explore San Francisco, California to bring you real-world tips and techniques to help you annihilate Adultitis and escape adulthood, creating a life that is less stressed and more fun! The challenges we undertake are based on The Escape Planwe created last year. I hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did making it! Continue Reading →

What’s the best part of making a snowman?

Rolling and shaping the first ball of snow?
The contagious excitement of others who happen to see what you’re up to? Continue Reading →

Adultitis: Ground Zero

If you have had the opportunity to check out the new website put out by the Cure Adultitis Institute, you may have seen the list of Adultitis hospitals. In case you’re wondering, an Adultitis hospital is a highly specialized treatment facility that is exceptionally effective in treating especially aggressive cases of Adultitis. There are many such hospitals located throughout the world.

This week, Kim and I have been in the Washington D.C. area. Between speaking engagements and working out of our satellite office (a.k.a. The Hampton Inn), we have had a chance to ride the Metro rail into the city for a little sightseeing. On Wednesday, I was able to photograph the very antithesis of an Adultitis hospital. Rather than treating Adultitis, this place is a breeding ground for the deadly pandemic. As far as I can tell, everyone who works there is infected, and it’s in the business of spreading Adultitis far and wide. Continue Reading →

Escape Plan: Colorado

Kim and I created The Escape Plan to work for anyone, no matter where they happen to be. While it was originally created to be a 40-consecutive-day program, you’ll feel a little less Adultitis-stricken anytime you do a challenge or two. We’ve been in the Denver/Colorado Springs area this week, and in between some speaking engagements, we’ve had some time to do a few challenges ourselves. In the tradition of the CSI: franchise, I give you Escape Plan: Colorado. What follows are examples of how someone might solve a few Escape Plan challenges if they were living in or visiting this part of Colorado.

#18 – Prison Break: Get out of your element. Go somewhere you’ve never been before.
Kim and I had some time to kill between presentations on Sunday, so we drove to the Garden of the Gods. With the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak as a backdrop, the Garden contains some magnificent red sandstone rock formations. The one pictured here is Balance Rock. Neither of us had ever really seen the mountains before (except for flying over them on the way to California). The massiveness of the rock formations was beautiful and overwhelming. It’s hard to really capture in pictures, but you’re just enveloped by the open landscape. It’s a great way to put any of your most vexing problems and stresses into perspective. Continue Reading →

Charlie Brown and the Free Prize at the Art Museum

Today was a swell day. After much anticipation, Kim and I finally had a chance to head to Milwaukee to check out the Masters of American Comics exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It showcased the original artwork of comic legends like E.C. Segar (the creator of Popeye), Chester Gould (creator of Dick Tracy), Jack Kirby (Captain America and The Fantastic Four), and the guy who brought us Charlie Brown, Charles Schulz.

If you’re a cartoonist, and you go to an exhibit like this, I’m pretty sure you’re bound to come away with two distinct thoughts. The first is, “I completely suck.” And the second: “I can’t wait to go home and draw.” Continue Reading →