Thankfully, The A Daily Show and The Colbert Report are back on the air. As, the Elder Extroverted Holy One and I were catching up on our liberal elite media fix when we wondered about something: if Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are members of the Writers Guild of America then are they essentially on strike too? They can’t even write for themselves? We have noticed that neither of them have notes in front of them. That must be rough going for guys who are used to writing down their own ideas just so they can say them on the air. Can’t they get a non-WGA member, say a camera man, to write down their thoughts?
Winter in Nashville
I’m having a hard time reconciling the fact that it’s January 7th and it’s 67 degrees. The Young Extroverted One and I are on our front porch. That ain’t right.
The Okay-est Story Ever Told
Thinking back on the birthing experience I just have to chuckle to myself because it was very different than the Young Extroverted One’s birth. For the YEO we basically did all of the labor at home so the Elder Extroverted Holy One could eat stuff and move around. She also took an Ambien given to her by her doctor so she could get some rest in between contractions. Needless to say, EEHO tripped balls through the major part of labor and wasn’t counting minutes between contractions. I was sleeping in a different room and awoke to the sounds of grunting coming from the bathroom. Quick call to the doctor, labor confirmed, and off we go to the hospital. We beat the doctor there and EEHO was fully dilated and ready to drop the kid and a couple of pushes later the Young Extroverted One arrives and all of the nurses are quite amazed at the EEHO and had to ask if this was her first child.
Now that’s the way I like it. I don’t have to wait around and watch my lovely wife endure the pain of contractions. I was so worried that I would pass out up until then but when the time came we didn’t even have time to get the cameras, the boom-box and CDs with handpicked labor tunes and even our luggage out of the car. I have come to realize that I’m a good reacter (is that even a word?) and not a good waiter. If something comes up out of the blue I got your back. If I have to wait for something to come up I may have to lie down some.
Which brings me the birth of our second wonderful child. For now she’ll be named The Other Extroverted Child (at least until she gets a little older and is either very intimidated or encouraged by the YEO). EEHO’s water broke around 4AM. She woke me up with the wonderful news to which I had to lay down because I got a little light headed already. Made the call to the YEO’s grandma who came out and off we were to the hospital. As EEHO was checking in I had to lay down again. Woof, anticipation is a little rough on me (or it could be that the EEHO wouldn’t let me drink beer for two weeks prior because, “You have to be sober to drive us to the hospital!” Egad, up until then she was the designated driver and I was the one drinking for three!).
From 6:30-ish until noon or so we basically sat around and watched some crappy t.v. They have nice labor and delivery rooms at baptist but a little light on the entertainment end. Through a couple of more checks pitocin was added and contractions got a little rough. During this time I was updating my Facebook status and bidding on a Rudolph the Reindeer from the Build-a-Bear Workshop on eBay. So, in between switching out cool washcloths and making sure the EEHO was as comfortable as possible I was checking the intertubes to see if we got the friggin’ doll whose nose lights up, has a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time. Twenty minutes or so before the OEC arrives I announce, “We got it!” Luckily, the EEHO didn’t rip the side rails off of the bed and throw them at me. The pushing came and then so did the OEC! Around 2:34PM the doctor held her up to me and asked me to make the boy or girl announcement. Which took me awhile because I wasn’t quite so sure why she was holding this slimy, pinkish, purplish thing at me. I cleared my head and said, “It’s a girl!”
And we lived happily ever after . . . at least until the teenager years.
Obligatory New Year’s Day Post
Not much going on here. Just thought that I would drop a post to kick off 2008.
I don’t have much in the way of resolutions (other than to lose the gut that I’ve acquired) just a general sense of gratefulness. Grateful for surviving another year, grateful for the love of a wonderful woman, grateful for two beautiful daughters . . . basically, insert my Christmas post here. Or, just go back and read it.
Talking with the Elder Extroverted Holy One last night after the ball drop I was thinking out loud. I figure Thanksgiving day would be more appropriate at the end of the year, during which a person looks back at the prior year (for better or worse) and looks ahead to the year to come. I think that’s when one would be thankful and should celebrate with a big, fat meal to ring in the new year. At least, that’s the feeling I had last night as I looked over at my beautiful bride holding our second child as the Young Extroverted One slept in her bed (for the moment) . . . thankfulness.
“God Bless Us Everyone.”
I’m a gadget guy. I would love to have all the new stuff that’s out. I want an iPhone, the latest iMac, even a MacBook Pro just for kicks, a sweet slr digital camera, a flat-panel HDTV. Luckily, I can’t afford that stuff or I’d be consumed by my consumerism. Instead I have exactly what I need: snuggles from my five-year-old and six-day-old daughters and my beautiful bride on a cold night, a big ole dog in my lap on the couch, and family (blood, married-into and adopted friends who are now family) near and far who I love and love me. You can’t get that kind of warmth from the glow of a 60″ LCDTV (even though I would probably try).
Merry Christmas everyone!
The Parasite Arrives!
Yesterday (12-19-2007) at 2:34PM (CST) the parasite arrived into the wild, wooly world that we live in. She is a girl (if you didn’t catch the hint) and rings at 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 21 inches long. Both she and the Elder Holy Extroverted One are doing very well. In fact, people are very impressed that the EEHO was epidural-less. She is certainly more of a tough one than I. While I did hold in there during the right moments I also spent some time with my head between my legs trying not to black out and/or puke. I will write more when I have a chance, I just thought the blog-world (all one or two of you) might want to know how the Introvert/Extrovert family are doing, right now I have to hold the former parasite (acronym to be forthcoming). . . . . satisfied sigh . . . .
Top 10 Christmas Songs (at least for now)
h/t: brc for the inspiration from his post Bruce’s Top 10 Essential Christmas Albums
I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile but now that I’m in my advent time (waiting for both my new baby and the,”Dear 8 pounds 6 ounces baby Jesus, new born, not even spoken a word yet.”) I have some slightly anxious time to post about Christmas Tunes. There is no particular order. This is how they popped into my head.
- “Linus & Lucy” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, but I also have a sweet version from moe.
- “The Twelve Days of Christmas” by Bob and Doug McKenzie from their Great White North album.
- “The Spirit of Christmas” by Ray Charles off of the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Soundtrack
- “Merry Christmas, Baby” by Otis Redding
- “Christmastime is Here” by Richard Cheese which is on his Silent Nightclub album. The way that the Young Extroverted One times the ‘Yowza’ perfectly is what makes it the best for me.
- “Must Be Santa” by Brave Combo on the Must Be Santa! The Rounder Christmas Album. I’m a little bit of a sucker for some polka.
- “Mele Kalikimaka” by either Bing Crosby or Jimmy Buffett. I just love listening to the YEO try to sing this one. It makes me smile.
- “This Time of Year” by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones from A Santa Cause – It’s a Punk Rock Christmas. I have no reason other than I dig the Bosstones and it’s a Christmas tune.
- “Hey, Santa Claus” by The Moonglows. I found this one on the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Soundtrack. The YEO has this song down, also.
- “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as recorded by John Denver & the Muppets’ on their Christmas Together album. As a whole I don’t really like this album. Maybe, it’s John Denver, I’m not sure. However, this song has the great “Bring me some figgy pudding” line that Miss Piggy has an issue with. I love that part!
YEO’s Hockey Saga
The Young Extroverted One is doing very well at her G.O.A.L. hockey clinic. She is in her third week and starting to skate like a pro. Well, as professionally as a five year old can. If it were me and I had a week inbetween sessions I would be starting from scratch every week. Meaning I would be picking myself up off of the ice a lot. I would need to practice every day to get to the point where she is right now.
Week one: she was falling non-stop even with the walker-thingy. Week two: less falling and better with the walker (or should it be called a skater?). The instructors also showed the kids how to get up from the ice. Which seems very difficult and was for the YEO. Week three: “skating” without the skater, a puck handling skill session with Terry Crisp and a little better at getting up from a fallen position.
Being on the other side of the glass I have found it very difficult to watch my child fall or be knocked accidentally over by others. I have found that I need to peel my face off of the glass after such incidents. I just want to be there to hold her hand and push other kids away that might even look like they’re going to knock her over. It wouldn’t be that helpful considering I would probably knock her down because I can’t skate. Plus, she is handling this all much better than I am and keeps trying her hardest to get back up. We constantly reference the Superchick song, “Get Up.”
Talking with Terry Crisp after the session he told me that she corrected him because he was saying her name wrong. Um, YEO? Yeah . . . hey. Um, that’s Terry Crisp. He played center for the Bruins, Blues, Islanders and Flyers. He was an assistant coach for the Flyers and the head coach for the Flames and Lightning. He won TWO Stanley Cups with the Flyers and won a cup as the Flames’ coach. As far as I’m concerned he can call you, me, anyone whatever he wants. Mkay?
Reasons Why I Like Seeing Hockey Live and Not Football
In the Sommet Center, unlike LP Field, I can pay for my beer and soda with a credit/debit card. In the Sommet Center, unlike LP Field, there are more than two (yes, count ’em, TWO) ATMs in the joint should I need one. In the Sommet Center, unlike LP field, my daughter can see the action (unless she’s looking for Gnash) even if there is a grown up in front of her.
I am very grateful to my friends to give us the tickets to go see a game with them. However, after the aforementioned experience I will never, ever buy tickets to see a football game at LP Field.
Thanksgiving Ruminations
Wow, where the heck have I been? I haven’t been getting much computer time at work getting the new director all trained and situated and I have been busy at home wrestling with a wall in the babies room trying to get it stripped, primed and painted.
The following is a post I wrote right after Thanksgiving and am now getting around to putting it up here:
I was sitting in the rec room of the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s mom’s house watching the Green Bay Packer game on turkey day. EEHO’s aunt, uncle and cousin’s were there watching as well. They’re from the West Virgina/Ohio area and are surprisingly Packer Backers. Unlike myself, who is contractually obligated to be a Packer Backer according to my birth certificate. But, it was nice to have some like-minded folks to watch the game with. As I sat there I looked around the room and said with my eyes glistening just a little, “This is just like being in Wisconsin with a house full of Beckers!” Well, except for the lack of stale cigarette smoke, drunk uncle with hands firmly clasped around my neck and other assorted showings of family love and bar paraphernalia. It was a good day with good food, good sports (not only did the Packers play but the Predators played as well. I had to settle for watching it on T.V. because the EEHO wouldn’t let me go to the game) and good family.
