Okay, not like the general public needs to know this, but when I was dating my ex (for eight years) I fell madly in love…with his parents. Then, my ex (hello, the ex from the start of this story should have tipped you off) became my ex and I still wanted his parents all to myself. Well, someone must have been looking over me, because here’s what happened. My ex moved to Korea (yes, Korea) for a job and I got to adopt his folks! Can you imagine my good fortune? I’m not joking. No, we didn’t sign adoption papers, but I do spend every Mother’s and Father’s Day with them and surely that means more than paper documents??!!! Right?

On to the real crux of this story. My dad (my ex’s dad but from here on out he’s mine) is very special to me. I think of all the ways I can impress and wow him on Father’s Day and somehow Hallmark falls a bit short. I consider making my own card but that’s so second grade. Jump ten minutes (and believe me you don’t need ten more minutes of my blathering on) and we come to my decision. I want to give my dad a “cool gift” but I also want it to be personal. Like Hallmark meets Blade Runner. Ya know? So here’s what I came up with! I would buy a hip digital picture frame (since that seems to be the peripheral of choice after an “i”-anything) and then put my very own PhotoShow on there for his personal entertainment. Best yet, he has a cat (yes, he has a cat but he’s had dogs over the years too so he’s not that lame) that he loves and I just happen to have a few very cute pics of that cat. How great would it be to make the cat the apple of this Dad’s day gift and wow him with a very syrupy show??! Well, you need not answer because I’m already there. Yes, yes, yes!

Albert (his beloved ragdoll) is featured in this Father’s Day collage of well-meaning and love. With trite captions, amusing graphics and enough attitude to silence Mariah Carey, I accomplished this in less than five minutes. I’m not joking. Here’s what I did.

1. Went to PhotoShow and uploaded the photos I wanted to use (ten seconds)
2. Added witty captions to each priceless shot (1 minute max)
3. Added sublimely appropriate animated graphics and stickers wherever I could (1 and a half minutes max)
4. Chose the perfect tune (30 seconds)
5. Admired my work (the remainder of the time – don’t make me do the math)

THEN, I literally outputted the show as a video file, transferred it to a jump drive (if you don’t have one they give them out at tradeshows ALL THE TIME or you can buy one for $5) then transferred the file onto the digital frame. It’s THAT easy. Seriously. I’m no techie and I could do it. You can too. (Alternatively, you can go into your PhotoShow account, click "Podcast your channel on iTunes" and then you'll find your PhotoShow(s) in your iTunes account where you can literally drag and drop into your digital picture frame!)

When I give him this Father’s Day gift he’s gonna think I put sooooooooooo much thought into this and not to discredit my great intentions but it seriously was a no-brainer and something I knew would score me major adopted-daughter points.

All by way of saying, check out how cute this is!!! And, it’s not too late to make one yourself!!!!