Remember the game of tag? Someone would be tagged, they would be "it", and run after someone else to tag them and make them it. Apparently, this is a bad thing now. It's considered chasing and harassing to some. My God. I remember when I was a kid we would play tag. I always wound up as being "it" it always annoyed me, because I wasn't a very fast runner. Yes -- I would get pulled into the game without really wanting to participate, but the furthest thing from my mind was to complain that I was being chased and harassed.
It seems our general inflated sense of entitlement is rubbing off on our kids. How sad.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Blog about Blogging
Lately, I've been trying to catch up on posts about my son, Christopher. Recalling the various trials and tribulations of raising baby has been quite a chore. I forget many things, then remember them long after I've made the monthly update post.
I've decided to take a new approach to blogging: Write ideas and events down as they occur. Later compile them into a new post. I need a process for keeping all of these memories somewhere before they fade away into oblivion. Another thing I need to do is find some way of relaying things with more frequency than just once per month. So, in between all of that there will be intermediate posts that will not necessarily be about him, but about life in general. Ideas and topics that come to me. And a means of putting those scraps into the blog, then fleshing them out when I have time.
I've decided to take a new approach to blogging: Write ideas and events down as they occur. Later compile them into a new post. I need a process for keeping all of these memories somewhere before they fade away into oblivion. Another thing I need to do is find some way of relaying things with more frequency than just once per month. So, in between all of that there will be intermediate posts that will not necessarily be about him, but about life in general. Ideas and topics that come to me. And a means of putting those scraps into the blog, then fleshing them out when I have time.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
An observation ...
On several occasions I've seen these things placed in the seat portion of the grocery cart. It seems people these days are becoming more and more germophobic. Seriously, they put these on their carts to keep their precious little spawn away from any and all germs.
What they're really setting their child up for is being seriously ill later on. A child who is not exposed to at least some illness-causing agents will not be able to build any immunity. Using something like this really is a disservice to your child1,2.
My belief? These parents fall into one of 2 categories: Those who are true germophobes who's cleaning-product shelf looks that of a hospital ward in charge of taking care of immunocompromised patients, and those who just simply don't want a sick, whiny kid with a runny nose, they also have similar shelves in their homes, sanitizer at every sink, and will generally sneer at you, should you get too near their precious child.
I don't quite understand this culture of needing to raise your child in a perfectly sanitized pristine environment. And FYI, those covers are likely to be even more of a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria than the smooth plastic and metal of a shopping cart.
What they're really setting their child up for is being seriously ill later on. A child who is not exposed to at least some illness-causing agents will not be able to build any immunity. Using something like this really is a disservice to your child1,2.
My belief? These parents fall into one of 2 categories: Those who are true germophobes who's cleaning-product shelf looks that of a hospital ward in charge of taking care of immunocompromised patients, and those who just simply don't want a sick, whiny kid with a runny nose, they also have similar shelves in their homes, sanitizer at every sink, and will generally sneer at you, should you get too near their precious child.
I don't quite understand this culture of needing to raise your child in a perfectly sanitized pristine environment. And FYI, those covers are likely to be even more of a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria than the smooth plastic and metal of a shopping cart.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
New life...
... and apparently new blogger.
Well, after a long hiatus, which seems to happen frequently with me, I decided to make an entry. We have a baby on the way, and I couldn't be happier.
What to do? So many things we will need, so much thought about this new life. I'm both excited and terrified. It was cool to see him (yes, its a boy!) on the ultrasound, and was just completely amazed.
Not much has been happening on other fronts.
Well, after a long hiatus, which seems to happen frequently with me, I decided to make an entry. We have a baby on the way, and I couldn't be happier.
What to do? So many things we will need, so much thought about this new life. I'm both excited and terrified. It was cool to see him (yes, its a boy!) on the ultrasound, and was just completely amazed.
Not much has been happening on other fronts.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Second Week
Seems sometimes I hardly have time to post..
Well, the second week is almost to an end. She's more tired, now. This is just simply amazing, though. Even though I do more now, it really isn't too bad.
Sorry for the short post. Its just that... well, theres not a whole lot going on!
Well, the second week is almost to an end. She's more tired, now. This is just simply amazing, though. Even though I do more now, it really isn't too bad.
Sorry for the short post. Its just that... well, theres not a whole lot going on!
Monday, October 09, 2006
A New Life
As many things in life, things change.
A new series of posts from now on. I'm now one of the many who is experiencing and has experienced having a new life develop before their eyes. I just found out my wife is pregnant. This will be our first child. I'm estatic.
Periodically, I will be posting entries about this wonderful and amazing journey.
Week 1, Day 1
It happened. It finally happened. We just finished a cruise, and during the cruise suspected that something may be up. So, upon returning home, we stopped by walgreens to pick up the test. I had just read a letter in the mail that was going to require attention, and was bad news. Fine. I can deal with it.
She took the test, and in a few minutes my world changed: it simply read "Pregnant". I was scared, especially because of the coorespondence in the mail, and now a baby, too. How can I deal with it? This wasn't how I wanted it to be. I wanted the moment we found out to be a spectacular rush of joy, not terror. But, I was a bit terrified. I had a financial obligation that I needed to make good, "or else..." and that stung, especially in light of this news. I didn't sleep too well, and was quite fidgity. We called my parents and her parents to tell them the good news. Deep inside I can feel the happiness, but it is overshadowed by the other news.
Day 2
Having reconciled arrangements to pay back the debt, I'm confident we can do this. I now find myself wondering about this new person, new human being.... Someone who only a scant few weeks ago didn't exist at all! What will they be like? What will their personality be like? Whose looks will they resemble the most? All these questions will be answered in due time.
Its wonderful! I'm going to be a dad!
A new series of posts from now on. I'm now one of the many who is experiencing and has experienced having a new life develop before their eyes. I just found out my wife is pregnant. This will be our first child. I'm estatic.
Periodically, I will be posting entries about this wonderful and amazing journey.
Week 1, Day 1
It happened. It finally happened. We just finished a cruise, and during the cruise suspected that something may be up. So, upon returning home, we stopped by walgreens to pick up the test. I had just read a letter in the mail that was going to require attention, and was bad news. Fine. I can deal with it.
She took the test, and in a few minutes my world changed: it simply read "Pregnant". I was scared, especially because of the coorespondence in the mail, and now a baby, too. How can I deal with it? This wasn't how I wanted it to be. I wanted the moment we found out to be a spectacular rush of joy, not terror. But, I was a bit terrified. I had a financial obligation that I needed to make good, "or else..." and that stung, especially in light of this news. I didn't sleep too well, and was quite fidgity. We called my parents and her parents to tell them the good news. Deep inside I can feel the happiness, but it is overshadowed by the other news.
Day 2
Having reconciled arrangements to pay back the debt, I'm confident we can do this. I now find myself wondering about this new person, new human being.... Someone who only a scant few weeks ago didn't exist at all! What will they be like? What will their personality be like? Whose looks will they resemble the most? All these questions will be answered in due time.
Its wonderful! I'm going to be a dad!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
And the "useless product of the year" award goes to ...
USB Batteries!
Thats right! you, too can plug four batteries into four available USB ports on your handy laptop, leave it on overnight (connected to wall power, since few laptops are capable of running full-on for 5 hour straight) and have a fresh set of batteries in the morning!
Hmm, I have several sets of NiMH batteries and a 15min charger at home. Its small, easy to pack and takes minutes to charge, and the batteries run for 1/4 the price of these. Heck, the charger costs as much as 1 battery. Oh, and don't forget: My batteries are 2500mah, these are 1300mah. You'd be better off stocking up on Alkalines.
Thats right! you, too can plug four batteries into four available USB ports on your handy laptop, leave it on overnight (connected to wall power, since few laptops are capable of running full-on for 5 hour straight) and have a fresh set of batteries in the morning!
Hmm, I have several sets of NiMH batteries and a 15min charger at home. Its small, easy to pack and takes minutes to charge, and the batteries run for 1/4 the price of these. Heck, the charger costs as much as 1 battery. Oh, and don't forget: My batteries are 2500mah, these are 1300mah. You'd be better off stocking up on Alkalines.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
There's a rabbit under there... somewhere
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Magic
Reading an article on Snopes, I'm reminded of a time when I was chosen from the audience to be part of a magic trick.
I was not in on the act. I was just as dumbfounded as the remainder of the audience. And then it came: The act was performed aboard a cruise ship. Which meant everyone who had seen me at some point had a chance to corner and question me about the trick.
My response: "No. I don't know how he did it, but it certainly was cool."
There are probably people to this day who thought I was part of the trick. Not every magic trick has a preselected participant in the audience.
I was not in on the act. I was just as dumbfounded as the remainder of the audience. And then it came: The act was performed aboard a cruise ship. Which meant everyone who had seen me at some point had a chance to corner and question me about the trick.
My response: "No. I don't know how he did it, but it certainly was cool."
There are probably people to this day who thought I was part of the trick. Not every magic trick has a preselected participant in the audience.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Cell Phone Slamming
I suppose word hasn't gotten around yet, so I'll be the one to break it to everyone:
Check your cellphone bill ... Look at it carefully. It seems the new form of slamming is particularly insidious. Send junk to your phone and bill you for it.
I have not subscribed to any monthly service whatsoever, and yet, I keep getting a $10 monthly text message. An advertisement is all it is, but they get to charge me $10 for it. No more.
Look for it: 21277 Text Alerts, Provider: Mobile Lifestyles
Check your cellphone bill ... Look at it carefully. It seems the new form of slamming is particularly insidious. Send junk to your phone and bill you for it.
I have not subscribed to any monthly service whatsoever, and yet, I keep getting a $10 monthly text message. An advertisement is all it is, but they get to charge me $10 for it. No more.
Look for it: 21277 Text Alerts, Provider: Mobile Lifestyles
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