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Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
kwik-e-mart, eh?
mmm...donuts
Kevin and Peter outside the Kwik-E-MartYay! Mountain View is one of 11 cities with a 7-Eleven-turned-Kwik-E-Mart. You gotta love movie merchandising when it's this fun.
Despite the rumors of it being super crowded, we waited until a Saturday afternoon to go. Luckily, it was pretty empty when we arrived. (When we left, though, a line was forming at the door. I had to leave to get my wallet from the car, and then had to bribe the security guard to get back in.)
I was kind of surprised by how much had been changed in the store. Sure, the changes were all cosmetic: character cutouts, signs promoting the Kwik-E-Mart, donuts, squishees, Buzz Cola, and Krusty Os. But there was a lot more than we'd expected. Plus, you gotta love the exterior!
Peter stayed asleep the entire time we were there, which probably was nice as it allowed us to extend our stay. It also saved him from what surely would have been an entry in the Annals of Horrible, Terrible, No-Good Parenting, as I can envision myself giving Peter his first taste of Squishee. Oh, well, at least he can say he was there.
Tangent Thanks to this month's Backpacker, my interest in Glacier National Park has grown exponentially, leading to this conversation:
Amy: We should go to Glacier soon.
Kevin: I know, it will be melted soon.
Amy: I wonder if seeing a glacier will be something Peter can brag about. Like, in 65 years he can say (in old man voice): "I saw a glacier once, sonny."
Thursday, July 26, 2007
who does this sh*t?
Day 2 of single parenthood wasn't tough, exactly, but it did end on a kind of rough note.
So I was really looking forward to a bowl of ice cream. Sadly, I ate all of the Creme Brulee, but I remembered that we still had another container in the freezer.
Yeah. We had some. About three spoonfuls.
This is clearly Kevin's doing. If I saw this little ice cream left in the container, I'd finish it off.
Did I mention it's time to start the diet?
So I was really looking forward to a bowl of ice cream. Sadly, I ate all of the Creme Brulee, but I remembered that we still had another container in the freezer.
Yeah. We had some. About three spoonfuls.
This is clearly Kevin's doing. If I saw this little ice cream left in the container, I'd finish it off.
Did I mention it's time to start the diet?
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
sigh...
Just a few of the fun play options we have available!Kevin's left for his first conference since BDR's arrival. Clever readers may realize that Kevin's absence means Peter and I are home, alone, together, for something like 90 hours straight. This will certainly be Very Tiring, but also Very Rewarding.
Tonight's lessons?
(1) It is really SO much easier to bathe a baby with four adult hands.
(2) Diapers have a purpose. Namely: keeping things clean. If you have a freshly-cleaned baby, it's probably wise to put a diaper on him pronto.
(3) Even if you want to get your dinner started, you can't really put the baby down an hour early. Because he won't go to sleep. And you'll just get frustrated. And no one wins. So, kick back, watch Dr. Phil, smile at the baby, and wait for him to smile back. You're in love with the booger, right?
(4) Then - eat dinner! Stop posting! Then, have some Ben and Jerry's Creme Brulee ice cream, because you're at home all alone and no one can stop you from eating straight from the pint. (Bonus points for doing this while watching Shaq's Big Challenge.)
(Note: I realized two weeks ago that I'll be going back to work at the end of August, and, unless I plan on wearing my okay-if-pregnant-but-kind-of-ugly-if-just-post-pregnant maternity clothes, I need to start dropping some of this baby weight. I was kind of hoping the Breastfeeding Fairy would come and take these extra pounds away, but she seems to be held up in customs or something. So...the diet must start. Sigh. I was really getting used to dessert three times a day, too.)
Monday, July 23, 2007
little reader
It looks like our love of reading might have been passed to the next generation...
Peter loves his Hearts and Stars book (and his Spots and Dots as well). He'll look at these pages for what seems like an eternity for a baby.
Peter loves his Hearts and Stars book (and his Spots and Dots as well). He'll look at these pages for what seems like an eternity for a baby.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Davis Family Adventure: The Conclusion
My parents left very early yesterday morning for their flight back to Indiana. Whew! (That's for my father, who told me I was free to blog about how "relieved" we were that they were gone.)
But seriously - whew! We did a ton with them during their two weeks home. Yesterday was spent in recovery: both Peter and I were power nappers, and Kevin pulled out the Battlestar Galactica, a sure sign that nothing of consequence will be accomplished on a well-deserved lazy Saturday.
It was nice they could spend so much time here, because they were able to see just how much Peter changes daily. And, in a few weeks, they'll get to see him again as we visit Indiana.
Until then, some memories of the last week of their trip:
Mission San Juan Bautista
The largest of California's 21 missions, and site of Hitchcock's Vertigo. It was pretty cool, if only for the crazy statue of John the Baptist outside.
Peter's Opinion: Nice, because it was mostly inside or in the shade. Plus, it was only a short car ride - always a plus! Thee out of four Pampers.
Locusts and wild honey, indeed! SJB's looking a little too much like a Calvin Klein model here.
Old Town Sacramento
It looks old, but it's full of all kinds of modern treats, like taffy and ice cream. As Kevin said, "I didn't expect it to be full of stores, but they're the kind of stores I like - candy stores and joke shops."
Peter's Opinion: Kind of a far drive, and a little sunny for me to enjoy it fully. Plus. there were too many loud trains. (This is true: the loudest Kevin and I have ever heard Peter cry, aside from those times when he received a shot, was when a train chugged past us and unexpectedly blew its whistle. It was pretty heartbreaking how upset the little dude was.) Two out of four Pampers.
The Uncle Sam Handshake Rater told me that I'm an "expert on everything." Damn straight.
Taffy, taffy everywhere...but it's all dolphin free (??).
Jelly Belly Factory
So, yeah, we've been here before, but it was on the way, the baby needed a diaper change, my father wanted to collect the "elongated coin" found inside, and Kevin and I knew that it serves Blue Bunny ice cream. And we love that Blue Bunny ice cream! This is how we came to enjoy ice cream before 11 a.m.
Peter's Opinion: Love those bathrooms! Four out of four Pampers.
For the record: Birthday cake and cotton candy ice cream goes down really easy at 10:37 a.m.
Also note: Kevin's watch is 5 minutes fast.
Egyptian Museum
Pretty interesting, even if we all were exhausted! Peter's Opinion: I was very, very quiet. Three out of four Pampers.
A probabilist's work is never done.
But seriously - whew! We did a ton with them during their two weeks home. Yesterday was spent in recovery: both Peter and I were power nappers, and Kevin pulled out the Battlestar Galactica, a sure sign that nothing of consequence will be accomplished on a well-deserved lazy Saturday.
It was nice they could spend so much time here, because they were able to see just how much Peter changes daily. And, in a few weeks, they'll get to see him again as we visit Indiana.
Until then, some memories of the last week of their trip:
Mission San Juan Bautista
The largest of California's 21 missions, and site of Hitchcock's Vertigo. It was pretty cool, if only for the crazy statue of John the Baptist outside.
Peter's Opinion: Nice, because it was mostly inside or in the shade. Plus, it was only a short car ride - always a plus! Thee out of four Pampers.
Locusts and wild honey, indeed! SJB's looking a little too much like a Calvin Klein model here.Old Town Sacramento
It looks old, but it's full of all kinds of modern treats, like taffy and ice cream. As Kevin said, "I didn't expect it to be full of stores, but they're the kind of stores I like - candy stores and joke shops."
Peter's Opinion: Kind of a far drive, and a little sunny for me to enjoy it fully. Plus. there were too many loud trains. (This is true: the loudest Kevin and I have ever heard Peter cry, aside from those times when he received a shot, was when a train chugged past us and unexpectedly blew its whistle. It was pretty heartbreaking how upset the little dude was.) Two out of four Pampers.
The Uncle Sam Handshake Rater told me that I'm an "expert on everything." Damn straight.Taffy, taffy everywhere...but it's all dolphin free (??).Jelly Belly Factory
So, yeah, we've been here before, but it was on the way, the baby needed a diaper change, my father wanted to collect the "elongated coin" found inside, and Kevin and I knew that it serves Blue Bunny ice cream. And we love that Blue Bunny ice cream! This is how we came to enjoy ice cream before 11 a.m.
Peter's Opinion: Love those bathrooms! Four out of four Pampers.
For the record: Birthday cake and cotton candy ice cream goes down really easy at 10:37 a.m.Also note: Kevin's watch is 5 minutes fast.
Egyptian Museum
Pretty interesting, even if we all were exhausted! Peter's Opinion: I was very, very quiet. Three out of four Pampers.
A probabilist's work is never done.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Sicko made me feel oh-so-sick
Last night Kevin and I took advantage of yet more free babysitting and saw Sicko. A few comments:
(1) Kevin now is fully on the moving to Toronto boat. Now, we just have to pray for a job opening.
(2) The birthing rooms at the NHS hospitals in Britain are really pretty sweet. I saw a ball and a hammock, and who knows what other devices were tucked away.
(3) Just when you think postpartum emotions have stabilized, you find yourself with tears dripping down your faces. I hope this will end, soon, because it's getting a little old.
(4) Did I mention Kevin's down with moving to Toronto? Just checking.
(5) See, the good thing about moving to Toronto is that we can ensure our children will have very little chance of thinking that dropping off uninsured sick people at a homeless shelter is okay. I'm not really sure how we, as a country, have sanctioned such heartlessness as perfectly fine.
(6) And we say we live in a "Christian country" with "family values."
(7) Kevin adds, "the thing about the taxes that I told you." Which is: Michael Moore should have taken a cue from political science professor and not-so-secret socialist John Stephens and shown that there is very little difference in disposable income between a country like Sweden, which provides a TON of social benefits via taxes and redistribution, and the United States. (Sure, the United States does provide some social benefits - Social Security Administration, anyone? - but who really relies on these benefits? Would you say, "well, I'm unemployed, but at least I get Medicaid!")
(8) Kevin also adds, "we'll move to Toronto."
(9) And, a bit of irony:
(1) Kevin now is fully on the moving to Toronto boat. Now, we just have to pray for a job opening.
(2) The birthing rooms at the NHS hospitals in Britain are really pretty sweet. I saw a ball and a hammock, and who knows what other devices were tucked away.
(3) Just when you think postpartum emotions have stabilized, you find yourself with tears dripping down your faces. I hope this will end, soon, because it's getting a little old.
(4) Did I mention Kevin's down with moving to Toronto? Just checking.
(5) See, the good thing about moving to Toronto is that we can ensure our children will have very little chance of thinking that dropping off uninsured sick people at a homeless shelter is okay. I'm not really sure how we, as a country, have sanctioned such heartlessness as perfectly fine.
(6) And we say we live in a "Christian country" with "family values."
(7) Kevin adds, "the thing about the taxes that I told you." Which is: Michael Moore should have taken a cue from political science professor and not-so-secret socialist John Stephens and shown that there is very little difference in disposable income between a country like Sweden, which provides a TON of social benefits via taxes and redistribution, and the United States. (Sure, the United States does provide some social benefits - Social Security Administration, anyone? - but who really relies on these benefits? Would you say, "well, I'm unemployed, but at least I get Medicaid!")
(8) Kevin also adds, "we'll move to Toronto."
(9) And, a bit of irony:
pyschic powers at work
For a while I've harbored a suspicion I'm somewhat psychic. Kevin and I often say that I "know things." Usually, these "things" are pretty lame.
Here's one that's not so lame:
During Peter's early morning feeding, I had the sudden realization that the photos hanging over his bassinet would be pretty dangerous in the event of an earthquake. I never really think about earthquakes, even though there is at least one a month out here. (It might be different if I'd actually ever felt one.) Earthquake safety has never, not once, figured into my thought process.
Potential deathtrap.
A few hours later, while talking with my parents, I learned that there was yet another earthquake in the bay area, this one near Oakland.
What's amazing about this? My thoughts about earthquake safety took place at almost exactly the same time as the earthquake.
Here's one that's not so lame:
During Peter's early morning feeding, I had the sudden realization that the photos hanging over his bassinet would be pretty dangerous in the event of an earthquake. I never really think about earthquakes, even though there is at least one a month out here. (It might be different if I'd actually ever felt one.) Earthquake safety has never, not once, figured into my thought process.
Potential deathtrap.A few hours later, while talking with my parents, I learned that there was yet another earthquake in the bay area, this one near Oakland.
What's amazing about this? My thoughts about earthquake safety took place at almost exactly the same time as the earthquake.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Transformers
Taking advantage of free babysitting, Kevin and I saw the Transformers tonight. (We arrived at the Transformers after realizing that it was theonlysinglemovie being shown between 8 and 9 p.m.)
So, while movies such as the Transformers clearly do not stand up to plot scrutiny, we did have these comments and questions:
(1) Why couldn't Megatron kill Shia LaBeouf? Really, if I were a giant alien robot, I'd hope I could take out little Louis Stevens.
(2) I can make a case for why the Transformers needed to transform into the first automobile they see...but why can't they re-transform after? I mean, wouldn't Optimus Prime want to be something a little more agile than a big rig?
(3) Why do I suddenly want to buy a Camaro? And drink a Mountain Dew? And call on Deloitte & Touche for all of my accounting needs?
When the movie didn't feel like a really long GM commercial, it was pretty fun. It was kind of cool to see the robots blowing up stuff. Kevin and I alternated between almost having seizures (due to the non-stop frenetic activity) and enjoying the ride.
Really, it's a lot better than the other Transformers movie, which Kevin rented from Netflix a few months ago. I suspect that it could only have been enjoyed under the influence of mind-altering substances. It's telling that the first Transformers movie reminded me a lot of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
So, while movies such as the Transformers clearly do not stand up to plot scrutiny, we did have these comments and questions:
(1) Why couldn't Megatron kill Shia LaBeouf? Really, if I were a giant alien robot, I'd hope I could take out little Louis Stevens.
(2) I can make a case for why the Transformers needed to transform into the first automobile they see...but why can't they re-transform after? I mean, wouldn't Optimus Prime want to be something a little more agile than a big rig?
(3) Why do I suddenly want to buy a Camaro? And drink a Mountain Dew? And call on Deloitte & Touche for all of my accounting needs?
When the movie didn't feel like a really long GM commercial, it was pretty fun. It was kind of cool to see the robots blowing up stuff. Kevin and I alternated between almost having seizures (due to the non-stop frenetic activity) and enjoying the ride.
Really, it's a lot better than the other Transformers movie, which Kevin rented from Netflix a few months ago. I suspect that it could only have been enjoyed under the influence of mind-altering substances. It's telling that the first Transformers movie reminded me a lot of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
adventures
The Davis Family Adventure continues, with trips to:
Big Sur
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Alcatraz Island
Stanford
My sister left this morning, but my parents will remain for another week. The non-stop momentum of their visit will wane now that my sister is gone, which is a bit of a relief since it's exhausting to be on vacation with a newborn. (Especially since Kevin's needed to work most of the past week.)
Big Sur
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Alcatraz Island
Stanford
My sister left this morning, but my parents will remain for another week. The non-stop momentum of their visit will wane now that my sister is gone, which is a bit of a relief since it's exhausting to be on vacation with a newborn. (Especially since Kevin's needed to work most of the past week.)
Monday, July 09, 2007
tall trees and a tiny baby
The Davis Family Adventure began in earnest today, as we trekked across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument and Stinson Beach.
We saw some tall trees, some beautiful beaches, and dressed our baby in a truly ridiculous manner.
My mother patiently waits for us.
Did you know Peter is half reptile?
Kimberly and me.
We saw some tall trees, some beautiful beaches, and dressed our baby in a truly ridiculous manner.
My mother patiently waits for us. 
Did you know Peter is half reptile?
Kimberly and me.Kevin and I decided that we'll never, ever, ever, ever try to go north of San Francisco on a summer weekend, even if there were a free festival of all-you-can-eat ice cream and cotton candy and popcorn and a dance party featuring all of our favorite bands and professional athletes. The drive is..."needlessly painful" is perhaps the most charitable way I can describe it.
Friday, July 06, 2007
a good reason to declare bankruptcy
As related by Kevin's officemate:
Apparently, there once was a student from "one of those European countries" who, upon coming to Stanford, decided not to get the employee insurance. Why would he need to? He's getting it from his country, right?
And his wife became pregnant.
And they delivered.
And they got the bill.
And they realized, with what I can only imagine is bone-chilling terror, that their national health insurance didn't cover babies.
So, they did what any good American would do: declare bankruptcy and return to the Motherland.
Again: how does one possibly give birth in this country without health insurance?
Apparently, there once was a student from "one of those European countries" who, upon coming to Stanford, decided not to get the employee insurance. Why would he need to? He's getting it from his country, right?
And his wife became pregnant.
And they delivered.
And they got the bill.
And they realized, with what I can only imagine is bone-chilling terror, that their national health insurance didn't cover babies.
So, they did what any good American would do: declare bankruptcy and return to the Motherland.
Again: how does one possibly give birth in this country without health insurance?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
TV Tuesday
This is the Hopen. Using the verb "to hope" write your own dirty joke. It was going to be drive-in Tuesday, but someone didn't want to drive all the way to the dodgy part of San Jose to see Ratatouille. So, we watched:
The Ringer.
(1) How do movies like this get made? Really.
(2) The Special Olympics dorms have the same bed that KJ and I have. (Kevin: "I thought it looked familiar.")
(3) Kevin: "I thought The Ringer was pretty good, though. I mean, didn't you think it had a good message?"
(4) I also thought The Ringer had a good message, but was curious about:
(a) Why were the Special Olympics on TV? and
(b) Why didn't anyone say, "hey, that kid was state champ?"
Shaq's Big Challenge.
(1) The love affair continues. Sigh. I heart Shaq.
(2) I also really love how seemingly unselfconscious these kids are. They are, for lack of a better word, very kidlike. Like, for example, how they really don't seem to realize that all of those video cameras recording their every move might show how they're slacking on their exercise routine. Or eating four slices of pizza in one sitting.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
let's hear it for sleep-deprived conversations
a very true conversation, around 4 a.m.
Amy: Can you put the baby back to sleep?
Kevin: Where is he?
Amy: Hmm. He's in the stroller.
Kevin: What?
Amy: Oh. The bassinet.
Note: The baby was asleep.
Amy: Can you put the baby back to sleep?
Kevin: Where is he?
Amy: Hmm. He's in the stroller.
Kevin: What?
Amy: Oh. The bassinet.
Note: The baby was asleep.
Friday, June 29, 2007
one-bee baby
Peter may love Busy Bee #1, but he punches the lights out of Busy Bee #2 (a.k.a. the Deuce).
Our baby's a monogamous lover, all right.
(note: Peter does enjoy a kiss or two from Monterey, but don't tell the Bee)
Our baby's a monogamous lover, all right.
(note: Peter does enjoy a kiss or two from Monterey, but don't tell the Bee)
porn star
We caught Peter full-on tongue kissing with Busy Bee* yesterday.
Before we filmed this bit of PG-13 video, Peter gave Kevin a long, serious stare-down, as if to say: can't a baby get a moment of privacy in this place?
*Note: After Peter's make-out session, Busy Bee went from being "he" to "she."
Before we filmed this bit of PG-13 video, Peter gave Kevin a long, serious stare-down, as if to say: can't a baby get a moment of privacy in this place?
*Note: After Peter's make-out session, Busy Bee went from being "he" to "she."
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
da bomb
Apparently, Thursday is National Bomb Pop Day.
I know this because I am on the Blue Bunny Ice Cream email list. Do me a favor: if you live in a state or city that actually sells Blue Bunny Ice Cream, go out and eat some. It's delicious, and, sadly, unavailable here.
Anyway, I plan to eat a few dozen Bomb Pops in celebration of Bomb Pop Day, but even I will halt in the face of these recipes (also supplied by BBIC):
Bomb Pop marinated shrimp;
Bomp Pop fried shrimp;
Bomp Pop marinated sole;
Bomp Pop spicy chicken wings.
Eew. I mean, I guess the salient flavor of a Bomb Pop is "sweet," but still...
I know this because I am on the Blue Bunny Ice Cream email list. Do me a favor: if you live in a state or city that actually sells Blue Bunny Ice Cream, go out and eat some. It's delicious, and, sadly, unavailable here.
Anyway, I plan to eat a few dozen Bomb Pops in celebration of Bomb Pop Day, but even I will halt in the face of these recipes (also supplied by BBIC):
Bomb Pop marinated shrimp;
Bomp Pop fried shrimp;
Bomp Pop marinated sole;
Bomp Pop spicy chicken wings.
Eew. I mean, I guess the salient flavor of a Bomb Pop is "sweet," but still...
shaq-tastic
Disclaimer: I am in love with Shaquille O'Neal - recall my desire to call BDR "Shaquila O'Neala." I love his giantness, I love his attitude, I love the fact that he his bed is 30 feet by 15 feet. I love the fact that he seems like a genuinely good person - getting his BA to please his mother, and then getting an (albeit fake University of Phoenix) MBA, and being a semi-kind-of police officer. I admit I've never seen Kazaam, nor have I ever listened to Shaq Fu: Da Return, but I'm sure even these wouldn't deter my love.
Plus, he's kind of good at basketball.
I don't understand why people don't like Shaq's Big Challenge. It's certainly the best thing I've seen on network TV in the past few months, and, as far as I can tell, the premise is pretty solid: there are lots of fat kids, fat kids are unhealthy and unhappy, and we should do more to make fat kids into skinny kids.
It seems the dissent comes in two forms: first, Shaq's kind of a porker himself. True enough, but he's also a professional athlete who can actually run up and down the court. I'd be more skeptical about the athleticism of fat athletes if I didn't see Charles Barkely tear up the court in a race with Dick Bavetta during last year's All Star game or the 1993 Phillies (who might not be the best example, as they didn't exactly win, but they were fat). All I know is that Shaq can make a basket over some kid's house, while I can't even make any shot from any distance, and that has to count for something. (About $100 million, if I'm not mistaken.)
The second problem people seem to have with the show is...well, that it calls some kids fat. But really, these kids are fat, and to imagine they think otherwise is ridiculous. I'm not entirely sure what the risk is of telling obese children that they need help (that is, they need to go on a diet and exercise), but our country really has a problem doing it. Is the fear that the obesity epidemic will flip to an anorexia epidemic? And is that really a valid fear?
Blame McDonalds and Hostess, not Shaq, for childhood obesity.
Anyway, the show is pretty much awesome. It shows Shaq as both this total dork who uses the same hit-my-hand-on-the-top-of-the-door-frame-and-pretend-I-hit-my-head trick over and over, who uses his fame (and size) to intimidate local bullies into leaving one of his fat kids alone, and who admits to being a sucker Dad to his kids.
In my dream world, there is a show of 8 to 10 minute clips of crazy but charismatic athletes - guys like Shaq or Charles Barkley or George Foreman - just doing normal stuff. Or complaining. My favorite part of any basketball game on TNT is when Charles Barkley starts getting cranky. Oh, well. I just have to hope ABC won't cancel this, because I'm really not sure what else I could possibly watch.
Plus, he's kind of good at basketball.
I don't understand why people don't like Shaq's Big Challenge. It's certainly the best thing I've seen on network TV in the past few months, and, as far as I can tell, the premise is pretty solid: there are lots of fat kids, fat kids are unhealthy and unhappy, and we should do more to make fat kids into skinny kids.
It seems the dissent comes in two forms: first, Shaq's kind of a porker himself. True enough, but he's also a professional athlete who can actually run up and down the court. I'd be more skeptical about the athleticism of fat athletes if I didn't see Charles Barkely tear up the court in a race with Dick Bavetta during last year's All Star game or the 1993 Phillies (who might not be the best example, as they didn't exactly win, but they were fat). All I know is that Shaq can make a basket over some kid's house, while I can't even make any shot from any distance, and that has to count for something. (About $100 million, if I'm not mistaken.)
The second problem people seem to have with the show is...well, that it calls some kids fat. But really, these kids are fat, and to imagine they think otherwise is ridiculous. I'm not entirely sure what the risk is of telling obese children that they need help (that is, they need to go on a diet and exercise), but our country really has a problem doing it. Is the fear that the obesity epidemic will flip to an anorexia epidemic? And is that really a valid fear?
Blame McDonalds and Hostess, not Shaq, for childhood obesity.
Anyway, the show is pretty much awesome. It shows Shaq as both this total dork who uses the same hit-my-hand-on-the-top-of-the-door-frame-and-pretend-I-hit-my-head trick over and over, who uses his fame (and size) to intimidate local bullies into leaving one of his fat kids alone, and who admits to being a sucker Dad to his kids.
In my dream world, there is a show of 8 to 10 minute clips of crazy but charismatic athletes - guys like Shaq or Charles Barkley or George Foreman - just doing normal stuff. Or complaining. My favorite part of any basketball game on TNT is when Charles Barkley starts getting cranky. Oh, well. I just have to hope ABC won't cancel this, because I'm really not sure what else I could possibly watch.
I got knocked up too
While Kevin's parents were here, we took advantage of the free babysitting and saw Knocked Up.
The movie itself was fine - I particularly liked the idea of the little girl Googling "murder" - but not as funny as I'd been led to believe.
Mostly, I found myself surprised by a few things - like, I really miss being pregnant. Specifically, I miss having BDR safely ensconced within the womb. Sure, I didn't really know BDR then, but he was always safe and always with me.
Also, I was very unprepared for my emotional reaction to the birth at the end of the movie. Luckily, there are only a few minutes of movie after the big birth scene, or otherwise I'd have needed to leave the theater early. Seriously: tears, on the verge of sobbing, partly for the memories of birth, mostly for the missing of my child. And I should note that I've not had post-partum crying since the middle of May.
Oh, well. I'm not saying we should have seen Evan Almighty or anything (does anyone else think Steve Carell is the next Jim Carrey? and I mean this in a bad way.), but I do think it might have been a little too soon.
At least the popcorn had real butter.
Monday, June 25, 2007
the crap I read
Does anyone remember this really terrible MTV show The Blame Game? All I really remember about it was that the point of the show was to prove who was responsible for a couple's break-up. In one segment the couple had a chance to air embarrassing dirty laundry about each other, and the accused could either deny the embarrassing facts, or he could admit to it, by hitting a button and saying, "I admit it." Any time I'm about to admit something embarrassing about myself, I often think of this - and, in my head, I'm slapping an imaginary button and proudly admitting something embarrassing...
...like all of the above. See, the thing is, I had a LOT of free time in college.
As much as I like to read the classics, the modern classics, and the should-be modern classics, I read a prodigious amount of crap as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit to reading:
All of Jane Green's novels. Well, not the most recent one, but I just bought it at Target. In hardcover.
All of Sophie Kinsella's novels - including Shopaholic and Baby while pregnant.
Lots of crappy YA novels, including the following serials: Gossip Girl, The A List, The Clique, The Au Pairs, The It Girl, Private, The Insiders, Summer Boys, and Seven Deadly Sins. And probably more.
Lots of books with very pink covers, none of which qualify as romance novels, none of which qualify as literature. Books by people like Plum Sykes, Lauren Weisberger, and Emily Giffin. Next up? 24 Karat Kids.
Also, I'm kind of chomping at the bit to get my hands on Dedication, the new novel by the craptastic authors who brought us The Nanny Diaries and Citizen Girl. I read the book jacket and was very surprised to learn that the authors actually bothered to give their protagonist a NAME this time around.
I'm also really excited for Kristin Gore's sequel to Sammy's Hill; I devoured Sammy's Hill two summers ago while living in exile at the Gray's house, and have been looking forward to more from her ever since.
...like all of the above. See, the thing is, I had a LOT of free time in college.
As much as I like to read the classics, the modern classics, and the should-be modern classics, I read a prodigious amount of crap as well. In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit to reading:
All of Jane Green's novels. Well, not the most recent one, but I just bought it at Target. In hardcover.
All of Sophie Kinsella's novels - including Shopaholic and Baby while pregnant.
Lots of crappy YA novels, including the following serials: Gossip Girl, The A List, The Clique, The Au Pairs, The It Girl, Private, The Insiders, Summer Boys, and Seven Deadly Sins. And probably more.
Lots of books with very pink covers, none of which qualify as romance novels, none of which qualify as literature. Books by people like Plum Sykes, Lauren Weisberger, and Emily Giffin. Next up? 24 Karat Kids.
Also, I'm kind of chomping at the bit to get my hands on Dedication, the new novel by the craptastic authors who brought us The Nanny Diaries and Citizen Girl. I read the book jacket and was very surprised to learn that the authors actually bothered to give their protagonist a NAME this time around.
I'm also really excited for Kristin Gore's sequel to Sammy's Hill; I devoured Sammy's Hill two summers ago while living in exile at the Gray's house, and have been looking forward to more from her ever since.
Jared and Cathy and reptile, too
I've delayed posting about this mostly because I wanted to wait to get the picture for proof.
Last week, Jared and Cathy Silver, friends of mine from college (and, I admit it, high school...kind of) were in San Francisco on vacation, and they drove down to scenic Mountain View for a dinner date. We at at Pasta? on Castro Street, and were rewarded with this:
a dude and his reptile. I'm not sure what it is...an alligator? A Gila monster? Who knows, but it was pretty awesome.
Last week, Jared and Cathy Silver, friends of mine from college (and, I admit it, high school...kind of) were in San Francisco on vacation, and they drove down to scenic Mountain View for a dinner date. We at at Pasta? on Castro Street, and were rewarded with this:
a dude and his reptile. I'm not sure what it is...an alligator? A Gila monster? Who knows, but it was pretty awesome.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
spoilage
Since Peter's grandparents and aunt have arrived, he's enjoyed even more than usual time-in-arms. Which makes time-in-carseat that much more unbearable, and this is unfortunate, since we would like to do more than sit around the condo staring at the baby.
Gram and Pop and Peter.
A painful drive home from San Francisco.
Gram and Pop and Peter.
A painful drive home from San Francisco.Peter's new art
For his Grandparent's visit, and for his first visit to San Francisco, Peter had a little cosmetic upgrade.
The package says these tattoos are "FDA and Mom approved!"
This was also Peter's first trip to a bar.
The package says these tattoos are "FDA and Mom approved!"
This was also Peter's first trip to a bar.Monday, June 18, 2007
bonanza
Peter says, "thanks for all the well-wishes and gifts!"In many ways, having a baby is like winning the lottery. We've been so bombarded by the most thoughtful cards and the most generous presents that the UPS man knows Peter Joseph by name.
Today, though, we received perhaps the most...interesting card, in a gift from Uncle Kari.
On a sheet of white computer paper, a simple message: congrats on l'il Peter Joseph.
On the other side of the computer paper? This story: Woman jailed for testicle attack.
This might be just the inspiration I needed to actually start a baby book.
err...try the $63,000 baby
Our lack of national health care makes our little socialist go cross-eyed.So it turns out that it was just $17,000 to bring Chompy McChomps into the world, and then another $46,000 to sustain him for three days.
Yowza!
Kevin's concern, once opening our most recent insurance statement, was whether or not we'd have to pay $500 instead of the $250 we'd anticipated, hinting that it might be a "rip-off" should we have to pay the extra $250. He may be kidding. He probably isn't.
I only mention this because it seems that, really, if we didn't have health insurance we probably wouldn't have had a baby. Or, we would follow the increasingly attractive option of moving to Canada.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Required Reading #10 & #11: A Maile Meloy entry
Maile Meloy (yes, Colin Meloy's sister), has written two books (Liars and Saints and A Family Daughter) that were really clever in their ability to reinvent what an author can do with the tale of one family.
Liars and Saints
I devoured the first, Liars and Saints, during the last month of my pregnancy. At this time in my life (and now, really), my measure of a good book was how long I would be willing to stay awake to read it. (Or, similarly, how willing I would be to forgo a nap in order to read it.) For Liars and Saints, I was willing to do both.
It's not a remarkable story - a bit dramatic, a bit tragi-comic, and a bit romantic for my tastes - but it's really well told. It's about a family, and how that family evolves over two generations, and then loops back over on itself as a niece and her uncle fall in love, make love, and make a baby. Luckily, he's not really her uncle, but her cousin, which apparently makes it all that much better.
(For me, I'm not convinced that my personal sense of guilt and weirdness would be assuaged if I found out that I'd been procreating with my cousin and not my uncle, but when I posed the question to Kevin yesterday, he concurred with the characters - it's all that much better to get it on with your cousin rather than your uncle. As Kevin pointed out, "your uncle would be too much like your parents." And, really, it's far to generous to think that these novels have any Oedipal or Electra allusions.)
A Family Daughter
When I started this book a few days ago, I immediately was confused. Same character names, mostly same character characteristics, but some significant differences. For example, one character was tragically childless in Liars and Saints, and had two children in A Family Daughter. Question mark? Yes. I immediately suspected my 8-months-pregnant brain was responsible for my faulty memory of the the first book, even though I'd really just read it.
Then, I realized what was happening: Liars and Saints was a novel written by a character in A Family Daughter. Thus, creative differences between the two. The same insanity and drama
ensues, with some additional drama thrown in - let's hear it for Hungarian orphans purchased by Russians for prostitution who have affairs with French diplomats, who sell illegitimate offspring to wealthy Alzheimer-ailing French heiresses living in obscurity in Argentina, who is told the child is delivered to her via a European princess's interest in Romanian orphans. Whew, indeed. And that's only a small subplot!
It should be noted that in A Family Daughter, the niece and uncle who have an affair are really niece and uncle. Sorry, charlie - no hidden pregnancies which make them cousins in this tale! Luckily, no children either.
Unlike many other creative-types - Monet's million water lilies come to mind, or Pollack's splatter paintings - authors are limited in their ability to reinvent the same material. Without resorting to sequels, how can an author use a creative conceit to its fullest? I enjoyed these books because the offer one clever suggestion.
That, and they were easy to read.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
the $17,000 baby
Hey, I'm worth almost every penny!We received our hospital bill yesterday. Thank God for health insurance.
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