baby ticker

I'm hopelessly unhip. I think the baby ticker is adorable. This may be the hormones talking.

All Will Be Well

How are the big decisions made? Do you jump in without regard to the consequences and flip the bird at the universe? Do you carefully consider every angle, detail the multiplying branches of that forest of decision trees? Do you let fate push you along to some inevitable output and then look back with a sigh at decisions made for you?

At the end of a wonderful holiday spent with your family, marveling at this little man who’s brought so much happiness to you…... do you? What do you? How do you?


Ah hell I want another child.




The winter's cold
But the snow still lightly settles on the trees
And a mess is still a moment I can seize until I know
That all will be well
Even though sometimes this is hard to tell
And the fight is just as frustrating as hell
All will be well

And all the children walking home past the factories
Can see the light that's shining in my window
As I write this song to you
And all the cars running fast along the interstate
Can feel the love that radiates
Illuminating what I know is true

And all will be well
Even after all the promises you've broken to yourself
All will be well
You can ask me how but only time will tell

You got to keep it up
And don't give up
And chase your dreams
And you will find
All in time

...

You can ask me how but only time will tell



- Gabe Dixon Band

I'm feeling much better. Taking the day to rest really seemed to help. After a quick shower I'm heading out for a few last minute gifts and then some wrapping and then it'll be x-mas.

I wish we'd get some snow but it's unlikely now just some rain in the forecast. To get into the spirit here's some photos I took a couple years ago from a walk with Nemo.

Happy Holidays all! It's been a pleasure meeting all of you and thanks for stopping by my little house on the Web.

Pa Rum Pa Pa Cough Pum

Part of the joys of family is the seasonal sharing of illnesses. E is finally getting over his bad cold and guess where it is now settling. Yes that’s right! On me!!!

I have too much to do to be sick right now. We’re having L’s family over on x-mas eve for a big gathering and we need to finish buying all the supplies for our kitchen remodel.

A large coffee or diet dr. pepper might be in order.

Don't Fence Me In!

The jokes just write themselves:

"A fence-building company in Southern California agrees to pay nearly $5 million in fines for hiring illegal immigrants. Two executives from the company may also serve jail time. The Golden State Fence Company's work includes some of the border fence between San Diego and Mexico.

After an immigration check in 1999 found undocumented workers on its payroll, Golden State promised to clean house. But when followup checks were made in 2004 and 2005, some of those same illegal workers were still on the job. In fact, U-S Attorney Carol Lam says as many as a third of the company's 750 workers may have been in the country illegally."

Boy meets fish

At the Baltimore Aquarium

These are the droids you're looking for.

"What seemed to be just another pile of desert rocks, gradually, as we approached, took the shape of the rockets, satellites and spheres of the 1976 "Star Wars'" production, the real-life science fiction amid the ancient desert.
Breathless and with my heart pounding, I wandered around the abandoned set, looking at the inscriptions "Mike and Lucy were here, 1987" or "Luke, I love you! Jessie, 2001."

As I peered inside one of the impeccably built constructions, I noticed a mattress and a small teapot on the sand floor. In a mere moment, the "owner" of the house was there: an elder Arab man dressed in a typical desert fashion.

Surprisingly, his French was perfect and he explained to me that since he had neither family nor money, he came to live in the movie set. He looks after the place, the real roof of the fake house protects him from the sandstorms, and if a tourist throws him a small coin every once in a while, he can buy some more tea and some food. And he is hardly the only one living in the Lucas-built wonderland in the middle of the Sahara. “

http://www.mysanantonio.com/salife/travel/stories/MYSA121006.1Q.starwars.245729f.html

I think that might be one of the coolest road trips ever. Star Wars is still wildly popular. It may be in part due to the Star Wars Lego videogame or just the Lego sets. My nephews were asking for the Star Wars models for X-mas. I was shocked and amazed at the variety and cost. I would have killed for these guys when I was little. This is the part where I confess that one of the best things about having a boy is reliving your childhood.

Take a look at these primo sets:


At $100, Vader’s tie fighter:



and the awesomeness of the gulp $300 Imperial Cruiser!!!

Look at that! Look at that!

My son has entered the streaking phase. At first it was just pulling the pants down but now he’s figured out that pulling these little tabs pulls the diaper down.

Maybe I shouldn’t have laughed the first time he came waddling into the kitchen with his pants down around his ankles and a big grin on his face. C’mon though. When I went to grab him and his little feet went kicking away taking a million little steps a minute… it was high-sterical.

So, the need to be free and his “potty” comments have propelled me to buy a potty for the little man. I know it will be practice at this point and it’s way too early for any success but maybe this is the start of the journey.



Also, a new and funny behavior is that when I catch E doing something he’s not supposed to be doing he looks at me and tells me “Bye-bye Daddy!” At first I thought it was random but nope, he’s trying to get rid of me. Even before I can open my mouth I hear “Bye-bye, Daddy!” heh.

We're here. We're queer. We're a little confused.

Our old house was in the Stanton Park neighborhood of DC a few blocks from Union Station and the Capitol building. Stanton Park is a wonderful neighborhood full of staffers and various association and think tank workers. Most days you’ll find dogs and their owners romping about. The playground fills to capacity on warm days. It represents the best of city living, getting out, meeting people, hanging with friends.

The proximity to the Mall and public transportation meant that it was often a staging ground and meeting point for groups ready to march on the greatest public space in the nation. It’s fascinating to watch events like the protestors gathering for the World Bank meetings. The uniformity of the noncomformists is always good for a chuckle.

One day I was out walking the dog with E in the stroller in front of me and I spied large crowds of bland suburban white women and children heading towards buses ringing the park. The various Choose Life and Murder signs were dragging on the ground by the Jesus pre-teens. Two women were talking animatedly while a swarm of 10-12 kids ran ahead, pushing, shoving, and yelling along the sidewalk. A couple of the kids darted into the intersection against the greenlight as the Moms kept chattering away. The car had to brake to avoid them. Finally one of the Moms looked up to yell at the kid to come back. There were kids everywhere.

It struck me how forcefully these parents are interjecting their children into this debate. I’m pro-choice but certainly would encourage families to put children up for adoption if they find themselves unable to care for them. I wondered though how many of these people would preach against my parenting and starting a family. Where will I go on these topics when E comes to me. How do you guide a child to make his own decision but also convey your own moral code? E’s already attended a Pride Fair and various hippie causes so choices have been made. Bottom line is I do want a free thinker. I have family members who fall back on the “It’s their decision.” When it comes to raising their kids. I want it to be their decision but I also want them to know why they’ve made the decision and how they got there. Yeesh, it is much easier to simply tell a kid what he should think.

Heather has two half mommies

Mary Cheney, the vice president's openly gay daughter, is pregnant.

I’ll give you a moment to let that sink in. The vice president of the United States is openly gay and will give birth soon. Strangely enough she hasn’t been in contact with our local Rainbow Families DC gay parenting group.

Living in Virginia even she can’t escape the harsh bigotry of Republicans. They’ve worked in that state to ensure that gays and lesbians will receive no equal rights. Miss Cheney’s partner will find herself quite invisible in the eyes of the legislature. I’m sure they’ll be able to afford the best lawyers to bang together some protections but like the rest of us they’ll see baby, it’s cold outside.

Will her maternal instincts kick in? Will she now step up for gay rights and family protections?

Cheney has described her relationship with Poe -- whom she took to last year's White House dinner honoring Prince Charles and Camilla -- as a marriage. You can’t have it both ways Mary. Heather’s not your wife. She’s not the mother of your daughter according to your party. If you want to claim the reward you’ve got to stand with us.

You are welcome to join us and other proud gay families at the next social gathering. I think you’re going to find that it’s a much warmer climate for your child than what you’re about to experience.

Light a Candle

Light a Candle at 'Light to Unite', where each candle lit equals $1 donated to the National AIDS Fund.

Pass it along.