Friday, December 31, 2004

The Mother In-Law has landed

Peggy arrived at the airport about 20 minutes early and we were there to meet her. Seth behaved well the whole time and even gave us a few smiles.

Now we have to decide whether we will stay up and watch the ball drop, or whether we will turn in early like the fuddy-duddies we are.

Auld Lang Syne

The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Robert Burns. 1759–1796

Auld Lang Syne

SHOULD auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min'?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne?

We twa hae rin about the braes, 5
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl't i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine; 10
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

And here 's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught 15
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine;
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne! 20

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

New Years Eve

We are getting ready for a visit from the Mother in-law today. She arrives at the airport at 4:45.

Seth is having Nap 1, Debbie is scurrying around and I am getting in trouble for posting this note when I should be vacuuming the lamp shades! :o)

Thursday, December 30, 2004

Ok! Now it looks like DC is really getting a baseball team!

Stadium Financing A Done Deal (washingtonpost.com):
Williams Signs Bill Authorizing Bonds
By David Nakamura
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 30, 2004; Page B01


D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams signed into law a financing package for a new baseball stadium along the Anacostia waterfront in Southeast yesterday, calling it "one of my proudest days as mayor."

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

How 'bout that new hat?

Here is something to cheer you up. A cute baby! That is one dashing hat.

Days Like This

Days like this can be pretty frustrating. I spent the whole day, or a least a good part of it, working on stuff that isn't going to do anything other than give our customers another box to check on their lists of "things we have to have." I am writing a basic training manual for our new software, and the only reason that I am writing it, instead of someone else, is that I can get it done quickly. Unfortunately, I am writing instead of selling, which is a backward step for this company.

I have to focus on sales and figure out how to give the non-sales stuff away. There are other people who can handle the non-sales stuff that I do. So why can't I seem to get it off of my desk and out of my way? This is my great challenge for 2005.

Tsunami

It is hard to grasp the scale of the the Tsunami disaster. The photos of destruction all look about the same. The images of distraught survivors are all disturbing. Looking at this from half a world away we can't perceive the destruction in a personal way; we are detached, geographically and emotionally. I can only shake my head and say, "What a horrible thing."

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

The silence of thoughtful people creates a vacuum filled by extremism.

--Margaret J Wheatley

Better Than Coffee

This morning Seth and I read the paper while Debbie got an extra half hour of sleep before I left for work. He was very bright and active as he usually is. So far, he seems to be a true morning person.

I held him while I scanned the headlines and he was perfectly happy to look around and see what was going on. He doesn't want to miss a thing. I think he is beginning to figure out that there is more around him than he can see at any one time. He turns his head a lot to look at different things rather than just focusing on what is directly in fromt of him. Every day there is something new.

Monday, December 27, 2004

The Remaining Days of the Year

Christmas is past and this week I will be wrapping up the business for this year. It has been an ok, but not fantastic year. Uncle Sam held us up by not passing a budget on time again this fall. Our first quarter of next year will likely better than usual because the business that was supposed to come in now will come in January and February.

Sunday, December 26, 2004

Boxing Day

We are continuing yesterday's festivities today. The jigsaw puzzle is well under way. Joe and Maureen are off to Philadelphia to visit her famiy.

It looks like we will have leftover turkey for lunch. Yum!

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas

Christmas has been excellent this year. We spent the entire day at Mom and Dad's house with the whole family. Seth did very well. He tolerated the present opening like a real champ.

The rest of the day was spent trying out the new stuff and eating whatever we hadn't eaten already!

Friday, December 24, 2004

Christmas Eve - AM

Today is one of those magical days that happen once in a while. Christmas Eve. We had a little Christmas at home this morning for the three of us. It has been fun. Later in the day we will gather at the parents for the big festivities.

This is a good time to stop for a moment and think about all of the things going on in the world, and to pray for peace.

Thursday, December 23, 2004

All Ready for Tomorrow

The presents are wrapped, the baby is getting a bath. Debbie and I are going to watch a movie this evening after Seth goes to sleep.

We are as ready for Christmas as we will ever be.

On Holiday

These are the days that it is hard to stay focused on work. Most of my clients are on holiday (either in body or in spirit) so the phones are quiet and the email traffic is slow. I always try to use these days to do the little things that I put off until "later." I guess later never gets here, but quiet days in the office do.

The whole family will be home for Christmas day this year. It has been a long time since that happened. Mom will be delighted.

I have to wrap a few presents this evening. That should put me in the spirit!

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Another Quiet Evening

Christmas is just around the corner, I am looking forward to taking a few days off over the weekend.

Seth is sound asleep. He was quite a happy little guy when I got home from work this evening. All smiles and gurgles. It's really fun to come home and have the lights on and the family here. Positively domestic...

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Snowman

Enough about Baseball! Let's see that baby again!

DC Baseball - For real this time?

D.C. Council Approves Deal to Finance Stadium (washingtonpost.com)
By David Nakamura, Thomas Heath and Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 21, 2004; 3:31 PM


"The D.C. Council gave its formal blessing to a deal to bring the Washington Nationals to the city today, ending two months of acrimonious debate by approving financing to build a baseball stadium along the Anacostia waterfront.

By a vote of 7 to 6, the council adopted a stadium package that contains several amendments to the deal Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) struck with Major League Baseball in September to move the former Montreal Expos to Washington."

The New Stadium - DC Baseball

Where will it be and what will it cost?

More Thrashing about Baseball

Accord Reached On D.C. Stadium (washingtonpost.com):
Williams and Cropp Negotiate Financing
By David Nakamura and Thomas Heath
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 21, 2004; Page A01


"D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams and Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp said last night that they had reached agreement on a stadium financing package that would satisfy Major League Baseball by guaranteeing construction of a permanent home for the Washington Nationals along the Anacostia waterfront.

Under the new proposal, which the 13-member council is to vote on today, the city will purchase insurance for potential cost overruns on the stadium and split the payments with Major League Baseball. Also, District officials will continue pursuing private financing for the project for several months. But Cropp said she will drop a requirement that 50 percent of the construction costs be paid for with private money."

Inconsolable

Last evening I kept Seth for a couple of hours while Debbie went out and did a little Elfwork. Usually Seth is pretty mellow in the evening and falls asleep while I'm holding him. Last night he was not. It is so unusual for him to cry for any length of time, that I was struggling a bit to figure out what to do with him.

After about an hour and a half I conjured up a scheme. He likes to have his diaper changed so, even though he didn't need it, I took him back to his room and changed his diaper. He couldn't stay angry for that, so he calmed down a little and I finally got him to fall asleep. He slept from 8 until 1:30 or so, which is a long time for him.

I suppose he was just tired after all. This morning he was his usual smiley self.

Monday, December 20, 2004

Odd Monday

This has been an unusual Monday so far. The power went off at 6:30, apparently it was a transformer failure. I heard the explosion when it went off. That gave me an excuse to stay in bed until I had enough daylight to take a shower, which made me a little late for work, but whose going to notice?

Seth slept a lot last night. He didn't wake up until about 7:45 or so.

Debbie tells me the power came back on at 9.

Sunday, December 19, 2004

The Washington Nationals Saga Continues

WASHINGTON -- Two prominent politicians who will have a significant say in whether the Washington Nationals remain in the nation's capital plan to meet Monday to try to save the suddenly wobbly deal.

Mayor Anthony Williams will meet with Linda Cropp, chair of the District of Columbia Council, who earlier this week introduced an amendment that could endanger the move.

Full Story

Holiday Party

Today we have a holiday party in Baltimore. My Brother and his Fiance' are hosting a small gathering for family. There will be lunch and then a visit to the Hampton National Historic site for their Christmas open house. It should be fun. Christmas is just around the corner. Have you got your shopping done?

Saturday, December 18, 2004

Mount St Helens Update

I have been checking in on Mt St Helens every now and then. It is still errupting and forming a new dome. Here is a photo from December 11. The new dome is about 400 yards long. It is the black blotch near the top-center of the crater.


Click here to see the Larger image at the USGS site.

Click Here to go to the photo gallery and see more pictures. The latest are from the 16th of Dec.

Here is a photo I took of Mount St Helens in July 2004

Friday, December 17, 2004

Home Again

It's good to be home again. Today started out in Hopewell, NJ, then Chester, PA, then home and back out Christmas shopping, then dinner with the parents. It is always good to go. It is always good to come home.

Off to Go Christmas Shopping

Debbie and I are off to go Christmas Shopping. We are going to leave Seth with Grandma for a little while this afternoon.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Battery Update

I changed the battery, the car is running, all is right in the world.

Dead Battery

Went to leave for work this morning, and my car had a dead battery. I knew it was failing so it was only a minor surprise. I drove the green car to work instead. Now I just have to find a new battery and install it. No big deal. I'm glad I didn't trade Debbie's old car when we got the new one!

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Making Christmas Candy.

This has to get to 305 degrees before we take it off the stove! Eventually this becomes cinnamon flavored hard candy.

Good Doctor Visit

Seth had his two month doctor visit today and got a good report. He is growing well and gaining weight. The doctor thinks he is also getting ready to roll over because he is holding his head up and arching his back when he is lying on his stomach. He got 4 vaccinations, which Mom said he handled well.

Latest Vitals:
Length: 24 1/2 inches
Weight: 13 lbs 1 ounce

That puts him in the 95th percentile for his age. I can already hear the cash register at the grocery store ringing!

Monday, December 13, 2004

The Traveller - Part 2

We took Seth to Wilson NC to visit friends this weekend and to go to the office party in Raleigh. He travels really well. Most of the time he sleeps, which makes it really easy. Even on a 5 hour trip. We stopped once each way to feed him and change him. He does get a lot of sleep, so he is more wakeful in the evening than usual, but he recovered well the next day.

When we got home last night I think he was happy to be there. He seemed to recognize familiar things.

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Survived the Christmas Party

We had a good time at the office Christmas Party last night. Seth handled himself admirably! He is growing in strength and wisdom.

Friday, December 10, 2004

Smile For Grandma!

Thursday, December 09, 2004

It's nice to have this baby

I sat down to write a little about Seth and don't know where to begin. Most of the time I just think, and say, the same silly things about him. How nice he is, how cute he is, etc. I am not even really sure I can describe what I feel.

What I know is that when I hold him, it's good, no matter if he is smiling or crying. I really am quite happy to study his little face for long periods of time. I think that sums it up rather nicely.

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

It's good to be home

I got home about 5pm this evening after an un-eventful drive from Williamsburg. It's good to be home with the family.

On the Road

this is an audio post - click to play

Monday, December 06, 2004

Missing the Family

I have been travelling for about 16 hours and already I miss the family. Luckily this is a short trip and I will be home tomorrow night. I won't have a lot of time on my hands to think about things other than work, so that should pass the time quickly.

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Sunday After Church

We went to 7:30 church this morning. Several of the old women made a point of telling us how good our baby is. (He slept most of the way through Mass)

Today Seth will go to his first art gallery show opening. Joe is showing some work at a gallery in Bethesda.

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Baseball Comes to Washington



Well, it looks like baseball is back in Washington DC. The Major League Baseball Owners voted to approve the plan to move the Motreal Expos to DC. Here is the Washington post Article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31794-2004Dec3.html

"(Babseball Commissioner) Selig did not address the two remaining hurdles -- the desire of some District officials to renegotiate parts of a deal to build a publicly financed stadium, and a compensation package for Angelos (Owner of the Baltimore Orioles)." - Washington Post -

Baltimore is only 35 miles from Washington and Peter Angelos is concerned that he will lose money because there will be two baseball teams in close proximity. That same situation hasn't hurt New York, Chicago, LA, or San Francisco. All of them have two teams close together.

Click HERE for the Washington Nationals Site.

Friday, December 03, 2004

Baby Sitting

Debbie has gone out to do a little Elf Work so I am at home with the baby. He is sleeping so things are quiet around here. This kind of baby sitting is not too hard. Even a new dad can do it!

A little frustrated at the moment

Sometimes everyone wants everything yesterday. At least that is how it feels. I'm sure, that in reality, it is not like that at all, but when four or five phone calls with special requests land on top of each other it can be a little hectic. Meawhile, the people that I really need to talk to today are not at their desks. It's Friday after all...

I just needed to blow off a little steam.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Late Fall Days

Late fall days have their own kind of beauty. After all of the dramatic fall color you look up one day and notice this fantastic monochrome pattern of tree branches over your head. After several months of this it does get a little tiring, but in December it really is pretty.