Brain Dump

Happy Holidays...I guess

For those of you who believe that there is not an attack on Christmas, allow me to present my own exhibit. We took little Chickpea over to the mall today to get some photos with Santa. The photos could be had with or without a printed border on the image. The border said "Happy Holidays." There was no option to have one that said "Merry Christmas."

Look, I understand political correctness and not wanting to offend people, but doesn't it seem a bit ridiculous that I can't go to get a picture, with Santa, and have it say something tied to Christmas? I have self selected into a group of people who wants a photo with the perennial icon of Christmas, and yet, I cannot get a Merry Christmas.

I find the whole thing sad. I did appreciate that the "Santa" told me "I listen to O'Reilley too, but I can't say Merry Christmas either." So Christmas is out. You're not allowed to even utter the words. This isn't even San Francisco. I hope reason and sanity win out over this political correctness.

I'm done. Sorry for ranting. I feel sad for my daughter. That's all.

Fun News

So we close the day with some fun and interesting news. First, the fun:

We don't have better quality just yet. That was taken on my phone, so you will have to forgive us, but the little Chickpea is walking. How cool is that??

Next up, we had our sonogram last week. The baby is doing well, as is my loving wife, who is soldiering through this pregnancy like quite a champ. I am very happy to announce that we are having a boy come March. That's just great news...we get to have one of each.

The posting has been quite lite as of late due to the ton of work related to my day job. Things have been going great, as we officially launched our service last week. You can check it out over at IMSafer. We're pretty excited about it, and I hope to have some news to post in the next couple of days. For now I sign off, as I am still pounding through the work.

I'm Alive, I Promise

It's been crazy with the launch of my new company, IMSafer.  We're cranking away, and that's kept my personal time to a minimum.  So to all the family who keep calling, yes I am alive.  Here's a photo from the weekend to placate y'all.

Happy Birthday Zander

In an effort to not play the woe is me game (yes I'm still in the hospital, yes I'm going to be OK, and yes I'm a little pissed off at my brother for not calling like he said he would - I'm in the m!therfucking hospital people), I want to talk about my best friend who became a father today.  He and his lovely wife had what can only be described as a ugly little yoda person (inside joke).  Truth be told, the child is quite large, so I am sure his wife was happy to part ways with him.  So happy birthday little man.

I should be out of the hospital tomorrow.  I'm glad I didn't die or have my nose collapse, both of which my doctor told me were very real possibilities.  Sometimes I wonder if, in the interest of his oath to "do no harm," he should have just kept those little bits to himself.  This is the second time in two years that a staph infection has threatened my well being.  Perhaps I should switch gyms...I hear that's where this guy Staph and all his little bacteria buddies like to hang out.

Tempting Part II

Serious...what. the. hell?  It's bad enough that I am in the hospital with an apparent aberrant infection that no doctor here has the ability to explain, "just treat."  Small incisions to follow.

The wife calls late last night freaking out because Chickpea is vomiting and listing in and out of consciousness.  Wifey has had quite an emotional beat down in the last 24 hours.  Turns out Chickpea is fine, but that's the first time she has ever thrown up.  Nothing like having a really great kid to leave you woefully unprepared when they do eventually get sick.

So to whatever health and wellness god that I managed to piss off, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean it.  Those other gods mean nothing to me.  Tell me what I have to say to get out of the medical equivalent of "please listen closely, as our menu options have changed."  Hell.  I'm in hospital hell.

Trippin'

18 months.  18 months is how long I waited to get one of these and be able to use it.  I can't even begin to explain how excited I am.  Been crazy busy these past couple of weeks, what with fund raising for the new software company and a couple of triathlons.  Crazy busy.  It's OK...when you have a co-pilot this cute, it's all good.

Baby Photo Montage

A little baby photo montage.  More because I am supremely busy with too many goings ons right now, but also because I'm a bit lazy this weekend.  The photos cover a time span from first Easter to this weekend.  And while it appears that she is crawling, she's not.  Chickpea can get up on to all fours, but that's about it.  Mobility eludes her.

Chickpea also found herself in a ghetto pool this weekend.  The parents were slightly embarrassed at the big blue thing on their driveway, but were no worse for the wear.  Chickpea, however,  had the time of her life.  Something tells me this kid is going to want to spend lots of time in or near the water.  Perhaps a budding triathlete.

Expect the Unexpected

Sometimes kids do things that you aren't necessarily ready for.  At first look at this photo, one might make the assumption that I am talking about the fact that Chickpea is standing.  That's part of it.  She didn't get there by herself, mind you.  I was pulling her out of the crib and decided to see if she could stand unaided; something that she had not done before.  Sure enough, she stood, wobbled, and then looked at me, quite proud with herself.  It's a little freaky when the infant is starting to do things that remind you that this in fact a real person.  She has also started to voice displeasure over such trivialities as what we are feeding her, what we won't let her play with and that she is, in fact, supposed to have that really bright shiny object right now.

Of course, it's also Blue Bonnet time here in TX.  That's the state flower, you know.  When the flowers come out, it's apparently tradition to dress the kids up and sit them down in the flowers for nice pictures.  We got sucked in...

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words

Insert your own picture caption here.  I prefer something along the lines of: "what the hell do you mean?  I'm not as think as you drunk I am!"

Cameras...they can get you at your best, or at your worst - or rather the least opportune.

Sucky

Three years ago today my mother died.  Last year my father died.  I have no grandparents left.  So it really sucked when my beautiful daughter sat up for the first time this weekend and I had no close adult relatives to call.  When it comes down to it, parents are parents, and everyone else isn't.  I wanted to show off to my mother and father.  Blech.  Sometimes life's greatest joys are shrouded in discontent.