Captain’s Choice Gift Set for a Father’s Day Contest!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Oh yes it is true, this contest is for our Gift Set and will go to one very deserving dad out there. Here are the details about the Gift Set:

http://shop.captainschoicestore.com/...C-Gift-Set.htm

Simply write about a memorable time. This can either be with your own dad or a memorable time that you had as a dad yourself. We have started this contest a bit early to allow many to share and in order that the winner will receive his gift before Father’s Day.

Although I am sure each submission will be a worthy one, the winner will be randomly drawn. This contest closes on June 4 at 9:00 pm CDT and is limited to CONUS. The winner will be notified at that time and the Gift Set will ship the following day upon our receipt of the winner’s address.

Here is where you get to make the call: It can either be shipped to yourself or if you prefer, your father.



A recent email from a satisfied customer:

I bought your Captain's Choice Bay Rum aftershave for my husband as a gift with his first true set of shaving equipment. I did a lot of research, picked out the best brush, cup, razor and shave soap,without going crazy, so I thought it would be fitting to put in the same effort with the aftershave. And man did that pay off big time. I love spicy scents on him and colognes were just really off the mark and they would "turn" and smell horrible within the year (and I mean $90 per bottle designer stuff). But when he shaved for the first time with the quality tools I got him and then followed them up with the bay rum, he was hooked and so was I. He loves how the aftershave feels going on and as it dries and how healthy his skin looks afterwards, and he also loves how I melt when I smell the bay rum and feel his soft skin. It is just right. And the price is also doable so we won't have to rearrange the household budget to reorder it, though it seems to be lasting quite a while. I was surprised to find out that there is no clove giving off the spicy smell... maybe camphor? Well we both wish you had a long lasting cologne that smelled just like it, but I may just surprise him with a little vial of the aftershave that he can use to dab on here and there throughout the day. GOOD stuff. Please keep up the great work.

Rebecca

[maxzoran]

Excellent PIF! Thanks for the opportunity

I want to share the story of the first night I was a dad. I know most dads have similar stories but this was the night my life was changed forever. I had no idea what it was like to be a parent. How could I? People can tell you about it, but you simply can't understand until you become one.

Our daughter was already a week late. It was clear to both of us and the doctor she wasn't planning on coming out anytime soon on her own. So my wife and I made the appointment to induce labor. We were scheduled to go in at 7:00 PM the night before our child was born. My wife and I decided to go out beforehand just to relax and calm some of our nervous energy. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and then decided to go see "Scott Pilgrim vs the World." After the movie was over, we headed back to our house to grab all of our supplies for labor. We checked in the hospital, moved to the labor suite, and the induction began. If all went as planned, my wife was to be in the final stages of labor the next morning. Well, the induction took a lot longer than expected. My wife was in labor for 18 hours (14 without an epidural) and it had come to the point where her body was simply too tired to push any longer. We never really wanted to have a C-section, but as many of us know labor doesn't always happen as planned. My wife and I finally decided it was best for the baby to have the c-section. Doctors, nurses, and support staff all came in to prep my wife to take her to the surgical room. I thought I would be following my wife to surgery, but I had to wait until they got her stabilized and ready. What followed was the most excruciating wait I have ever had. It really couldn't have been more than 10 minutes, but it felt like a year. I was in our temporary home for the past 18+ hours alone. My mind was racing...is my wife okay? Is the baby okay? Is something wrong? I realized I had no control over anything and I knew nothing. It was a strange feeling to say the least. When they finally came to get me, I found my wife convulsing on the table with one arm strapped down. She was so nervous about surgery that she could no longer control her nerves. They were giving her meds to calm her down...but she stopped immediately after she had heard my voice and it was all I could do to keep my composure and be there for her. She was in and out of consciousness and I talked to her and held her hand the whole time. I kept calling out for her BP and vital reading like I was some kind of tv doctor. Looking back it was pretty comical actually. Anyway, I'll spare the gory details of the actual c-section. Once they had finally gotten our kid to come out of my wife's belly (kicking and screaming I might add) our little Preslee was new to the world. She was weird colored, and goopy, and her head was misshapen but it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Since my wife was completely out, I was handed our daughter and this was literally the first time I've held a baby, much less a newborn. I remember being so worried about how fragile babies are and how to hold them, but instinct kicked in and it felt natural. I just stood there, holding our beautiful daughter and rocking her in my arms while those bright blue eyes looked up at me. They had finally stitched up my wife and I woke her up just enough to see what she had grown and nurtured for the past 9+ months. My wife kissed her several times and I got a pic of the two of them together before she was out again. It was simply magical. We went back to our suite and I held her some more (and had an impromptu diaper changing session) until my wife was awake enough to be able to have skin to skin contact.

Preslee is now 20 months old, and she is a firecracker to say the least (okay, more like a fireworks stand). Being a parent is challenging, and frustrating, and magical, and beautiful, and rewarding all at the same time.

I know it's early, but Happy Father's Day to all the current and future fathers out there!

[RailroadMan]

My step-daughter turned 18 last year, and SWMBO took her to Mexico for 18/graduation. Well, the other step-daughter stayed with her dad so it was just my daughter and me. She had just turned six, and I decided to surprise her. We took off to the Great Smokey Mtns. and stayed at a place with a big indoor/outdoor waterpark for 2 days, then to Gatlinburg for 3 days to see the Aquarium, play mini golf, and swim at the motel. I think she enjoyed the pool more than anything, but she nor I will ever forget Daddy/Daughter vacation. We have Daddy/Daughter weekend coming up this weekend, and we're going to the flea market (razor hunting) and Chuck E Cheese.

[brother cavefish]

one of many funny moments, was my oldest son, Now 22, was about 5- he was selling candy for his school, like all schools do,(personally i think its BS) anyway he really worked his butt off went to house family everything, was excited , He came in second place for the whole school, and was on stage and everything to accept the prize, first prize was a boombox stereo, second prize was a cheap little plastic lock, a friken lock, my kid was so pissed off, when he got in the car, remember he is 5, he looked at me and said " dad, you know this candy selling is a rip off" , i started laughing , shaking my head, , then he pops up with " you know what this candy tasted like SH-T too" i just started rolling, i could not stop laughing, ------ i know kids are not to cuss and he never was much of one , and while i was laughing i told him . ' Ya know you should not be using that word" but he pulled it off so sweet and was so sincere------------i was dieing

[JBagKY]

Amazing gift set Captain and thanks for the generous offer. I might have to send my wife a link for a father's day present. Anyway here is my story:

About 6 years ago, I finally put my life back together after making a lot of the bad decisions that a 20 something year old could. I didn't ever get into drugs, but was horrible to friends and family and just a waste with money. I had recently moved to a new city and started a job that was better than anything that I had had before. It was shortly after that I met the woman who would become my wife. After becoming her friend for 6 months, I asked her out and started dating. It started to look like we wanted to get married, but I didn't have anything to use to buy an engagement ring. I told you I was a waste with money. I had begun to look at cheaper rings online to just have something and then eventually buy something better later. But, I still was a little short. I had always thought that if I needed money from my parents, it was my dad who I should ask. So, I had planned to ask for a little loan to get the ring and then pay them back.

My future wife and I went down to visit my parents on Mother's Day weekend. During that time, my dad and I got in the truck and took off. We would do that pretty much every time to just spend some time together. I figured that we would do that and that would be the time to ask. So, we take off and I am sitting there upset that I have to ask for money, but know that its not like any other time before. Then before I said anything, my father started talking. He said that him and my mom had discussed things. They knew how I felt about Heather (my gf/future wife) and that they knew eventually I was going to ask her to marry me. He said that they decided if I wanted to, I could use the first ring that my dad got my mom to propose. I was speechless. He continued to talk about how he has finally seen me mature to the man that I need to be and how he is proud of what I was doing professionally and personally.

I couldn't help it, but I broke down in how he knew exactly what I needed in more than just anything physical. I told him what I had planned to do and what I had planned to say to him. I thanked him for making it so easy and being the father that he was to me. I told him how great of a dad he was and how I hope to show my children that type of heart and character.

That was probably the first time since I was a teenager that I felt that I wasn't just a burden to my parents. It was never anything that they did, but what I thought because of my choices and my own personal image. Him telling me so much about his feelings toward me changed me. He physically gave me a ring, but emotionally reminded me that I was now a man. I had felt like a little boy up until that conversation.

[armorrich]

Thanks Captain...here's my story. My dad was one of many WW2 vets of the Pacific theater. He served with the 7th Evacuation hospital. Quite a few years ago, my mom was away and dad and i were keeping "batchelor quarters". One evening after dinner, we were sitting on our screened in porch just chatting. Having an avid interest in military history, i steered the conversation toward his military service which he would freely talk about at parties etc. We talked for a while that night and he shared a lot of things that didn't come out at the parties. Later on it struck me that most, if not all the experiences he spoke were either humerous or fact based. He never spoke of what he saw on those hospital wards. I knew he had a cigar box of photo's and it moved me to ask if he'd sort out the pic's and try to remember which islands they were taken on so i could compile an album. He did and i made up the album. Dad passed away a few years back while living with my sister in Hawaii. Came back from a day at the beach, went to bed and never woke up....what a way to go!! I've since shared those pics and stories he told that night with my older brother who never new they existed nor heard the stories. That evening was priceless.


best, rich

[SeattleSparky]

I have 3 children (boy-12,boy-8, girl-5). When my middle boy was about 3, mom and the older brother were out, so we went for a walk. Got caught in the rain, torrential downpour, hoofed it home threw off all the wet stuff got some warm towels, started a nice fire and were just chillaxin! He was coloring, and I said as is my wont "Who loves you baby??" ala Kojak, he got the most serious look on his face, tilted his little head sideways and said " You do daddy!!" Melted my heart!:)

[cross]

A fond memory that I keep going back to is my son's first word. We were having a garage sale and he was in the drive way with me playing quietly. I walked outside, he looked up and said: Daddy! and reached for me with great excitement.

Luckily enough I had friends over to witness the clarity and awesomeness of his first word, as the wifey just could not believe it!

Too many other memories to list, but my oldest is almost 4 now, and I have another little one who is 7 months old and growing fast.

These are the golden times in my life and I should really be keeping a journal of all the great and wonderful experiences I have on a daily basis with my family.

Thanks for the chance at a great fathers day gift set!

[RailroadMan]

Well, I know I already posted, but last night was really cool, and I had to share. My daughter like to watch me shave. Her mother is out of town this weekend. Anyway, after my shower, I asked if she wanted to watch me shave. She came in, she is almost 7, to watch. Then it became a little more interactive. I had lathered up the Bigelow, which she loves, and she starts stealing little bits of it to put on her, turning the water on for me every time I need it. She then asks to put it on me, so I let her. After 5 passes with her lathering me, she rubs the alum block on me. Then she pours the witch hazel for me, and the Clubman. At the end, she put my wedding ring back on my finger. Really cool.

[Nova316]

My favorite thing to do with my dad was to shoot pennies with a pellet rifle in the basement when I was a very young child. I loved getting stoked to load up the ammo and get the gun all ready. He would pump it up and sight it all in but let me pull the trigger. Slowly by slowly he taught me how to aim and shoot, I remember always getting excited and ready when we would go into the basement to shoot coins. It was the best reward ever also my fondest moments. The look on my dads face and how excited I was when I was able to hit my first coin all by myself. It was the patience and discipline that my dad taught me in those finer days, that instant gratification of pulling the trigger and not waiting is less than delay gratification of being patient till your 100% sure. It was a tough lesson but slowly fed through my older years that if you keep at it, and keep focused that I'd eventually achieve it.

[cvandyke27]

One fond memory i have with my dad was when i was about 6 years old and he took me to my first baseball game. It was the Baltimore Orioles and the Oakland A's. On the way into the stadium a lady came up to us and gave us two tickets which turned out to be tickets that where owned by a A's family member who couldnt stay for the game. We ended up sitting in the first row right by the on deck circle. It was really cool being a kid and getting to talk to the players you see on tv. I cant really remember much of what happened in the game but the time and experience we had was great.

[KindestCutofAll]

My dad was a lifelong Scouter (over 60 years) and a recipient of the Silver Beaver (Google it if you don't know). Scouting was his dedicated hobby. He made sure my brother and I were both scouters. In fact I ended up doing about 30 years myself.

My father was a gentleman, and a well loved man by all. He made sure that every boy was taught to be polite and thankful, treat women and children with respect and above all be on their best behavior.

While growing up our Boy Scout Troop (979 Norwalk, CA) was a backpacking troop at the time. One of my fondest memories was on a Long Term backpack trip. We were spending 9 days and about 50 miles, hiking and camping in the Rocky Mountains. Carrying about 65 pounds of gear on my back (maybe I'm sick but it really was fun).

We had setup camp one afternoon and a group of my friends and I were getting ready to do some major fishing and exploring. With this group of my friends standing by my side. I was rifling through my pack looking for my fishing bait and some snacks. I knew they were in there, but no matter how hard I dug through my pack I couldn't find them. I started to get frustrated and said "Damn, where are they". Suddenly from about 15 feet behind me I heard the unmistakable voice of my father bellowing "Where the H311 did you get that F*(king $h!t from? No son of mine speaks like that, Damn it!!!"

Well... about the time my four friends were slinking away, covering their faces in an obviously overt attempt to stifle their snickering. I very politely stood and looked my loving father directly in the face, and oh so innocently said to him "I don't know Dad. I'm really not sure.". Fortunately the irony was not lost on him and he somewhat sheepishly admonished me to watch my language and go enjoy myself with my friends.

I share this because it was truly out of character for him. It was the source a vast amount of humor over the years, sharing that experience with family and friends around Father's Day with my Dad. In fact this was only one topic of humor we shared quietly, just he and I, talking about old times, as he lay in his hospital bed the evening before he died.

He was truly a great Father and a patient example. He taught not only his two boys but easily hundreds of other young men, Shooting, Fishing, how to handle and sharpen a knife and Axe. How to stay dry in the rain, cool in the heat, avoid blisters, tie knots, and all the basics of First Aid and CPR. How to track game and identify signs of wildlife. Always emphasizing respect to people and the environment. He instilled in so many young men, the "Art of Manliness" decades before there was ever a web site for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I dedicate this to his memory, and the memory of all other fatherly examples that have given their time to mold the lives of young men.

[mistervee123]

Great stories so far. I feel like I can't compete, but I would like to add my "father" story.

My own father was more concerned about the bottle than about his family. Enough said. He died before I graduated from college or before got married, though he met my girlfriend, who would later become my wife.

Enter my father-in-law, who I really did not like much at first. He and his wife have 11 children. My mother-in-law was wonderfully warm and accepting. My father-in-law was overbearing, intrusive, and felt his way was not only right, but also the ONLY way. He constantly questioned me about my major in college, then later about the decisions my wife and I made. He put down the early jobs I held as worthless, and badgered me about how I'd never make enough money to support my family. Needless to say, I avoided him whenever possible.

Every year however, my wife's whole family goes for a one week vacation TOGETHER (all 11 brothers and sisters and their families!) on one of several islands near here in Lake Erie. I dreaded that week. And when we went, I did my best to find activities that my own family could do as far removed as possible from her father. He has a worn out, leaky little 12 foot aluminum boat that he has owned since the 60's, and he brings it along on the roof of his car. He said he felt a trailer was a needless expense. Most of the time one of his many sons would go fishing with him, but every now and then, he would ask me to go fishing with him, seemingly as a polite gesture, but I would find some excuse.

One year when we were vacationing, my wife went with her brothers and sisters and all the kids to get ice cream after lunch while I stayed behind to take a nap due to a headache from the heat and sun that morning.

I was sleeping when a silhouetted figure suddenly appeared in the bedroom door of the cabin. It was my father-in-law, The Patriarch, who, of course, hadn't bothered to knock. He was wearing an old beat up fishing hat that he wore during these vacations, and he was holding a suitcase sized tackle box and two cheap Walmart rods and reels. He wanted me to go fishing. Though I protested and complained of a severe headache, he insisted. "You and I are the only ones left," he said, with an indication that I was very much like the last kid chosen for a pick up baseball game. I don't know why, but after several minutes of haggling, I couldn't continue arguing with this headache, and finally gave in and said yes. I grabbled my small minimalist tackle box which he snorted at. I grabbed a recently purchased, relatively expensive rod and reel which he berated as exorbitant and unnecessary, since, "the fish won't care how much you spent on that stuff anyway."

My father in law is jumpy and restless, not the type of person who can sit in any one place long, so his preferred method of fishing is trolling, and troll we did. He boasted about the lure he was putting on and how many fish he had caught with it as he let out his line behind the boat. I put on a simple silver and black Rapala. Within a couple minutes, I hauled in a 4 lb. bass. Two more quickly followed. My father-in-law finally got a good hit. Reeling it in, he netted up a sheephead (white drum) a "junk" fish here on Lake Erie. Shortly afterward, I got a huge hit and this time landed an 8 lb. walleye... in shallow water, in mid afteroon mind you! He nodded, and said, "Hmm. Nice fish. What kinda rod is that, anyway." The pretenses suddenly dropped, and we continued to fish for another couple hours. We actually began talking as two grown men, about topics ranging far and wide. Though I can't say why, some kind of barrier was broken down between us that afternoon.

My father-in-law and I in the many intervening years have since become good friends and avid fishing partners. And I have to say, he has become closer and more of a father to me than my own was. He recently turned 80, and sadly is beginning to show the signs of his age. It makes me sad. Despite the rocky beginnings of our relationship, now I do not want to think about a future without him.

[kudadi]

Ill enter with a short one. I took my 6 year old to Cooperstown a few weekends ago and we enter the hall with the bronze faces and he turns to me looking very serious and whispers is this where they keep all the dead people.

[MrMale]

Ever since I was little my father used to work with wood and leather and would make all these beautiful carvings-- plaques and tables and things like that. And my sister was always the artistically talented one (I remember when I caught her drawing naked people for school and she said to me, "Well, you gotta draw naked people before you put clothes on them!"). My father would always encourage her to follow her talents, but she stopped with them. I always sensed that he was disappointed by her decision.

In any case, about a half a year back I was going through a miserly phase where I convinced myself that I would make all the things I needed so I'd save money-- especially on things like jewelry. So I decided I wanted to have a little wooden necklace-- tribal, you know? I went to my father and said I wanted to learn some woodworking. I'd say what a mistake that was! He pulled out all his books on chip carving and whittling and relief carving and carpentry that I was so embarrassed to say I only wanted to carve a little piece of half-inch softwood. So I didn't.

For a half a year now he has been teaching me all about chip carving (his specialty), and it's the closest I've been to him. He's old and repetitious, but I finally understand how to work with him.

[mayhem]

I recently shared a shave with my 14-year old - his very first.
I told him a while back that I wanted him to learn the right way to shave, and that he should let me know if/when he was ready to give it a try. I picked up an inexpensive DE razor and brush for him to use and kept it handy. He watched me shave a few times, and seemed a little anxious about the whole thing. He didn't seem to be in any hurry to give it a try. Finally he told me that he wanted to give it a go on my next day off from work, so we could take our time and try it without anyone else around to "bug us!"
I'd been looking forward to this, because I grew up without a father in the house, and learned to shave through trial and error. I never had a dad around to show me what to do. Needless to say, when we had our shave it was a few very special moments for me, and I'm guessing that neither of us will ever forget it. When we finished he hugged me, and told me that he appreciated my taking the time to do this with him. We're pretty close, but never more so than that afternoon.
Good news is that I have two more boys to teach about shaving - I get to do it again in a few years!

[KMF79]

I share custody of my 10 year old daughter with my ex. Alone I've fought with the mother and her side of the family in the California family law court system, just to get too have her in my life. To get too spend some of our lives together. It boggles my mind to try and understood why women will beg a men to be part of their childrens lives when he doesn't want anything to do with them? Yet do everything in their power to keep a man out of their childrens lives when he wants nothing more than to be a dad? I'll tell you like this. All the time I spend with my daughter is memorable!

My daughter's really in too drama and has been involved in a drama camp (outside of school) for a few years now. Some of my most memorable and proud memories are of watching her perform on stage. Watching her shine, without fear, in front of large crowds of people. Watching her enjoy life! Wow does that make me feel good. That's why every moment I spend with my daughter is memorable for me.

Thank you for this contest. It's very generous of you.

[Big Dookie]

My dad has been into guns for as long as I can remember, and I occasionally like to go shooting with him when we sometimes go visit them for the weekend. Recently we took a trip out to the gun range, and this time my 6-year-old daughter wanted to go with us. When we got out there, my dad helped her out and showed her how to shoot and aim and all the things he taught me when I was younger. It was pretty neat to look at him with her and imagine myself in her place almost at her same age, and to know that my dad is still the same great guy who will never miss an opportunity to spend some time with the people he loves.

[tbress]

Thanks for celebrating fatherhood with this great contest.

My wife and I have fertility issues, and we decided to do a domestic adoption for our first child. Domestic adoptions are tricky. The upside is that you can take the child home from the hospital and you usually have good medical histories from the parents. The downside is that the birth mom can change her mind at any point in the process, even for a limited time after the baby has been born.

In a private, domestic adoption the birth mom chooses the adoptive parents. The birth parents put together a profile with pictures and some basic information and the birth moms look through the profiles and select one. We were chosen by a birth mom and got to meet both her and the birth father. My wife went to doctor's appointments with the birth mom, we were vetted by social workers, we jumped through all the hoops, the expenses and the paperwork. We picked out a name, set up the house for the new baby, and had a baby shower. The delivery day came and went, no news. My wife then went to a doctor's appointment but the birth mom didn't show up. It turns out that she had had the baby and changed her mind without telling anyone.

We were pretty devastated. We were going to be parents, but all of a sudden we were back to being childless. We decided to get away from it all for a while by going to a luxury camping spot on the beach in Cancun. It is beautiful there, and there is no electricity and no phones. The days are spent on the beach and the evenings are lit by torches and kerosene lamps. We didn't have cell phones at the time so we were really getting away from it all.

While we were there, a girl back home in Michigan went into labor prematurely at 30 weeks, almost 10 weeks early. She had difficulties and almost died during delivery. She wanted to place the baby for adoption and picked our profile. The adoption attorney needed our answer in 24 hours, did we want this baby? He was only 2 lbs, 10 ounces and very premature.

They tried to contact us, but of course we weren't home, we were in Mexico! A friend of ours who heard about the problem went to our house and convinced our neighbor to let her in. She ransacked the house looking for address books. Phone calls went flying all over the country to our family members, but no one remembered the name of the place we were staying and of course no one had a phone number for our location.

Finally someone remembered where we had gone. My wife and I were walking on the beach at night when we got a hand-delivered message from a hotel further up the beach. It was addressed to my wife and it said simply "Emergency, call home". My wife began freaking out, thinking that someone had died. We hiked up the beach, got to a phone, braved the international operator and heard the news that a very small, very premature baby was waiting for an answer. Did we want him? Yes, we did!

Our new baby was in the hospital in an incubator for month before we were able to bring him home. We brought him home on Mother's Day, the best Mother's Day ever! The Lord works in mysterious ways. If we hadn't had the first adoption attempt fall through, we would have been totally unprepared for our first son. As it was, when we were chosen on such short notice we already had the house set up for a baby, we had baby clothes and accessories all prepared, and we even had a name all picked out.

Nine years later, our son is in perfect health, is smart as a whip and is quite the handful. He and his younger brother (another domestic adoption) are the joys of my life. Thanks for letting me share my story with you, and Happy Father's Day to everyone at B&B!

[turtle]

A re-post from another B*B thread

When I was 15 my dad told me that I had better get a job and start saving up for a car because he sure was not going to buy me one. I mowed lawns, worked in a pet store, worked in a hospital kitchen and saved every penny I made.

Just short of my 16th birthday I found the car I wanted AND I could afford the $200 it cost. My dad was not all that pleased with my choice as it had been burned in a fire and it was a real mess BUT he and I spend the better part of 2 years doing a body off restoration on "my car"

My first car was a 1957 Jaguar XK-140-MC roadster. Open cockpit, wire wheels and more horse power than a 17 year old should ever be allowed to handle. My senior year in high school I drove a show room condition 2 seat open cockpit sports car that would do 140 mph without breaking a sweat AND I lived to tell all of you about it too

This is one of a few pics I have left that I took during the restoration with most of it in primer. It has been almost half a century ago now and many of the photos are never to be found again but the memories of my father and I rebuilding this car will live with me until I die.