The meaning of pure joy

I think Jenn and I discovered where pure joy comes from last night. It lies in the uncontrollable giggles of a 5 month old baby.

We had just put Sonja down in her crib for the night and were about to start singing her the nightly cannon of lullabies when I bent over to kiss Sonja's tummy. She giggled and giggled. So of course we kept doing that until all of us could laugh no longer.

It will be the thought that gets me through this week. Work remains stressful and school is moving towards it's semester's end crescendo of loads of group work and reading.
The weather has been cooperating with my mood. Today it is cold about 32°F snow/sleet and the air is permeated by a grey colorless cloud of haze. Ahh Mondays

Sonja Jumps (or sways)

Sonja Jumping and Eating

Sonja is starting to get better at the johnny-jump-up thing and really likes to work the legs.

We are also quickly thickening up her cereal - so it sticks to the spoon and her face much better.

Politicophobia haiku

Red state or blue state

Politicophobia
A handshake and wink

Sonja loves to smile

Sonja loves to smile

Sonja November 8, 2006

Sonja in the High Chair and with Kitty

Another busy weekend here at the house. We hosted the monthly neighborhood party on Friday (proof of our insanity). Sonja held up better than her parents did. Karma also taught us a lesson.

Jenn and I were braggin' up the fact that Sonja has been such a good sleeper since about 2.5 months. Sleeping though the night, easy to put to bed, etc. So of course every night for the past few days she has been hard to get to bed and has woken up at hours best fit for the zombies and Wal-Mart shelf stockers.

Oh yeah, and I did finish my paper for class, but unlike previous classes I will spare all of you and not post it to the blog. It's about the importance of blogging for businesses so I am certain no one wants to read it.

Here are a few more pictures from the weekend. Feel free to post comments and click ads : )

Sonja High Chair and Cat

Sonja Reads

Can you tell I have a large homework assignment due on Monday. I have posted lots today and it is because I am a procrastinator. Oh well. It's just school.

Haikus for Breed 'em and Weep

Okay three haikus in one posting here... this is a shout out to my wife's frien Jenn. She writes a great blog (Breed 'em and Weep). I clicked on the "about" tab and discovered that she is afraid of three things - swans, teenage boys and IVs. So I couldn't help myself.

Ornithophobic
Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds
Or a giant swan

Boys filled with hormones
And a new drivers license
Ephebiphobic

Sharp, long and pointed
Made to insert into flesh
Aichmophobic

Sonja makes the jump to real food!

You want me to eat that?!? It looks like gruel... wait a minute, it is gruel... Rice cereal is for babies, bring on the pizza! Click on play to watch the video below.

Lots of pictures

Okay, so I don't get my 35mm film developed all that often. I think we move from Christmas 2005 up to just a few days ago. Please click on the image above to see all 48 photos.

Sonja day one - Baptisim - yacht party -christmas

Sonja in Yellow and Pink

Just click on the picture to go to the photo album to see all the pictures. Just getting ready to feed Sonja for the morning feeding. It's 7:30 AM and this will be second breakfasts as she decided that she was hungry at 4:30AM... After we eat we are going on a field trip to Walgreens for a prescription refill and to develop some film... and the Walgreens just happens to be across the street from a Starbucks : )

Sonja in yellow and pink

Wonder Woman, Pimp Man and Sonja

Sonja in the kick and play chair

Kirsten and Jim

Common Ground

Since it is election season I thought I would dig up an old idea I had a few years back. It's a radical idea, a notion that could revolutionize the country. It's cooperation.

Two years ago Minnesota was seeing some pretty ugly partisan bickering going on within our the state government. It nearly led to a shut down of the government.

I tend to lean left, but it doesn't mean that I walk lock-step with the DFL party. In fact, for me, party loyalty is a crutch for the weak minded. Now this may sound harsh and probably not well thought out (which it isn't) but really shouldn't our loyalties lie within our communities and families?

Shouldn't GOP and DFL representatives be able to COMPROMISE and COOPERATE? I expect any political representative not to be able to fulfill every plank of their party platform. I expect them to use the plank as a starting point and then to move towards the center as they compromise with opposing viewpoints.

This was the thought that made me force a small group of friends and family to meet for coffee and treats to discuss what we could do about the gridlock that was (and is) the Minnesota political system.

A good conversation took place. Coffee was consumed. Ideas were bandied about, but in the end we did little. We left with plans to talk to our local representatives and to let them know that we valued compromise over conflict.

Unfortunately, life is busy. Time is scarce and motivation even scarcer. Perhaps someday, someone will pick up this dusty idea and run with it.

For my dad in China

My dad is in China for the next three weeks and I promised I would post lost of pictures of Sonja for him so he wouldn't miss out on anything...

I love Grandma

Everybody loves me (what's with all the hands?!?)

John Kerry is not a comedian

I have debated about writing down my observations regarding John Kerry's recent comments regarding education and the war in Iraq.

Thankfully, I no longer have to because someone spelled it out for me. Click here to read a well written opinion on the matter.

One thing I haven't heard anyone mention, and I am curious to know, is what is the average education level of our men and women serving in the military. My guess is that Kerry may have a point, the average enlistee enrolls out of high school and doesn't have a college degree. However, I still think there is a wide gap between education and intelligence. So while those serving our country via the military may not have an abundance of the former they make up for it with and overabundance of the latter.

Arachnophobia Haiku

Small and venomous
Two more legs than an insect
Arachnophobic

Sonja on the changing table

Whatdaya looking at? So I got some drool on my upper lip... maybe I like it there...

Ahh the kissy face

Sciaphobia Haiku

So dark and silent
My ink black doppelganger
Sciaphobia

My family

I am so proud

Happy Halloween

Happy halloween to all our friends and family out there! May your holiday be filled with many treats and few tricks.

Bed head

Just up from my nap : )

Daylight Savings Time

This weekend we are setting our clocks back by one hour.

The plus side, we get an extra hour of sleep (Sonja dependent of course) - the downside, I won't see the sun much anymore.

Dark when I get up and dark when I drive home.

Geek

I am a geek. I am testing out something to increase my blogs visibility.
Technorati Profile

Sonja in the mirror

Sonja didn't used to like tummy time but now she loves it! At least for a few minutes : )

Minnesota Politics will be back after a word from our sponsor

I don't claim to be a political wonk. I am not an expert on the civic institutions that make our country what it is, but when did the forum for debate and discussion regarding public policy become a television ad war?

I find the idea that I can learn about a candidate by watching a 30 -60 second TV spot offensive. That's it. I don't have anything more to say about it. I just wish it would stop.

Ranidaphobia Haiku

Wet, green and slimy

Wart-kiss? I will just say no.
Ranidaphobic

The blog paradox

I am confused. Everything I have read in my communications technology class and everyone I have talked with seems to indicate that people are reading less and less these days... Okay to be fair we are sifting through much more data but we accomplish this by skimming for facts and bullet points and charts.

Design standards for websites indicate that text heavy is not the way to go... So why blogs? I write a blog and I realize that of my 12 readers about 1 out of 12 actually will make it to the end of this entry.

I understand that if I post pictures or videos on my site they are more likely to be viewed than my words.

• I know that if I bullet or highlight my main points my readers will appreciate it, and yet I still go through the exercise of writing my thoughts out - not aimed at my audience but rather aimed at the traveling target in my head.

Blogging allows me to escape for a time from my day of crafted emails and painstakingly edited corporate PR pieces to just relax and type my thoughts as they flow onto the page I don't even need to use punctuation if I don't want to, although I find it has become a reflex - a poorly honed reflex, but a reflex nonetheless

So back to the question at hand, why the popularity of blogging. I didn't realize there was a large pent up demand to read tiny 10pt font on a tiny computer screen. I think the phenomenon can be tied into two things: our need for attention and our desire for community. I can't claim to be free from the taint of hubris, hell I am sometimes besmirched with the stain of avarice (please click on the ads on my page so I can make money). I like to think, however, that in my own small way I am sticking it to the system.

No my blog is not overly political, not too confrontational, I don't cover hot topics of the day (at least not very often), my blog is however the story of my life, my day to day thoughts, be they boring, funny or occasionally insightful they are mine and they are personal. No mass media would ever pick up my story. No made for TV movie will ever be created, no Hollywood movie ever created to tell my story, so it is up to me and me alone to shout it out. I may be yelling into the vacuum of cyberspace where my tone and inflection is drowned out by millions and millions of others doing the same thing, but at least I know that my voice is part of the cacophony of humanity and that is something.

Zappa Concert

Jenn and I went to see Zappa plays Zappa on Friday night. I am a fan of Frank Zappa and a friend of my from school asked if I wanted in on the tickets. I accepted.

I never had the opportunity to see Frank Zappa play so seeing his son Dweezel play with a band that included Napoleon Brock Murphy, Terry Bozzio, and Steve Vai (all of whom played with Frank's band at one time or another)was on opportunity I did not want to miss.

The show rocked. It helped me remember that not all rock music is devoid of soul and comprised of 3 chords and/or a blues riff repeated add-naesum. The musicians were just that, musicians. They played with passion and feeling but also with discipline and integrity. You could really feel that the overarching factor in every song was not the screaming guitar solo or the lead vocals, but it was for the song as a whole.

This holistic approach to music was like a breath of fresh air which I sorely needed.

Plus how often do you get to go to a rock-n-roll concert which features a vibraphone as well as a kazoo?

Sonja Laughs

Sonja spectacular

I know, I know, more pictures, just can't help myself... I am a lazy writer.

Sonja October 20

Life During Wartime

Apparently, we are at war right now. A global war even, a war against evil itself. A war on terror. Oh goody! I have always wanted to rid the world of terror and evil. Sounds like a pretty simple thing to do.

I remember as a kid, sitting in History class and hearing about WWII. I used to try and imagine what it was like for the people back home. I used to imagine that it the US was devoid of all men as they had all gone overseas. I imagined a world where an entire nation's focus was on the war. Fretting and worrying over sons and husbands. Riveting together planes, buying war bonds, recycling everything, rationing food, pennies without copper... I thought war required sacrifice on every ones part.

Now I sit in my home, the war on terror rages while America watches 'American Idol'. We prop our feet up on the coffee table and enjoys a cold beer. The war is real, soldiers are dying and being injured everyday, but what impact does that have on me?

It feels so wrong. It feels like this national disinterest in something as mind-bendingly significant as a global war is somehow going to bite us in the ass.

No answers only angst.

Video of Sonja 4 Months old

Fluoropolymer haiku

Reluctant to melt
Resistant to chemicals
Fluoropolymers

Sufjan Steven's Video

Hauntingly Beautiful

Sonja's 4 months old now

Lots of new pictures here... just click on the image and view the slideshow.

She had her 4 month check-up yesterday and everything is A-okay! She is now 13 lbs 11 oz and 25 inches tall.

Sonja on October 10 and 11

First Snow of the season

October 11, 2006. Snowing on the way to work. I like the snow. It helps quiet my mind.

Winter is on its way

Yes Sonja, it's true. Winter has nearly arrived in Minnesota. Which means you will be bundled up like this for the next 4-6 months. We know the hats a little big and it all seems overwhelming, but once the windchill hits -40° F we are certain you will thank us.

Change is tough

Change is tough, especially when your a baby. Sonja has decided that she doesn't much appreciate sleeping without the swaddle. She lets us know this every morning. Last night it was at 1:00 AM until about 2:30 AM. In the end she did fall back to sleep but it was tough for Mom and Dad.

I know we have been spoiled with months of uninterrupted sleep at night, but that doesn't make the loss of it any easier to bare. Not sure what I would do without my friend coffee. Large light roast from Caribou with a depth charge (a shot of espresso). My poor wife does not do coffee, so life is even tougher.

Five hours of bifurcated sleep make for interesting work days. Hours lull by like a dream and I can't remember what I've done or what I am doing. They haven't fired me yet so I must not have done anything too terribly wrong.

Back to work and life without sleep.

Can you believe it... more Sonja photos

Just to help get me through the day...

Sonja small blue dress and yellow jammies

Oct 7, 2006 - 13 Photos

Sonja in the fall

Just a few misc photos over the past few days. Basically from our anniversary to Jenn's birthday. Click on the photo to display all.

Sonja in the Fall

Sep 29, 2006 - 4 Photos

Ecclesiophobia Haiku

Forgive me Father
Ecclesiophobia
Has a hold on me

Oh god! Church again?!?

Ecclesiophobia
Please don't make me go

The Pope says to go...
Ecclesiophobia
Says, pedophile priests

Thursday Humor

Okay, since I have been so lax in posting Sonja photos I thought I would make up for it by posting a very funny totally partisian political joke.

Q: How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to change a light bulb?

A: Ten.

1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed.

2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed.

3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb.

4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either for changing the light bulb or for darkness.

5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Haliburton for the new light bulb.

6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor, standing on a step ladder under the banner: Lightbulb Change Accomplished.

7. One administration insider to resign and write a book documenting in detail how Bush was literally in the dark.

8. One to viciously smear that administration insider.

9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light-bulb-changing policy all along.

10. And, finally, one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing a light bulb and screwing the country.

Sonja Laughs & First Day of Daycare

Sonja laughed for the first time yesterday.

It was beautiful.

I was holding her in my hands and tipping her forward so her face would come near mine. As she approached I would open my mouth wide and she would copy that.

Her drool laden mouth would come barreling down on mine and then, at the last second I would turn my head just enough so that I could plant a big wet kiss on her right cheek.

She at first was just all talky but then on one of those kisses she gave a little squeal. I looked at her to make sure nothing was wrong and she had a big smile on her face.

So we tried again, and this time an unmistakable giggle.

I called for Jenn to come and watch she rushed in and again a wonderful high pitched squeal and giggle laugh with a huge smile.

Mom and Dad couldn't have been prouder.

I ran to get the video camera. As soon as I turned it on she stopped laughing... not big on the command performance.

Definitely her father's daughter!
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Today we dropped Sonja off at daycare for the first time.

It went well. She was well behaved for the most part and mom held together well.

I think our planning of slowing weening her into daycare is paying off.

Not to say that it has been easy we called there about 3 times today and wanted to call there about 15 more times.

Grandma and Grandpa got to babysit

My folks graciously offered to babysit Sonja this past Friday so that Jenn and I could go out to dinner and have an evening to ourselves. That's right, you heard me right a whole evening. They volunteered for the overnight babysitting gig! So lucky to have family in town.

We didn't get her over there until about 9 PM so our night out was cut a little short but we did get to sleep in until 10:00 the next day!

Here are some photos of Sonja with Grandpa on the swing. Sonja is zonked out. (Click on the picture to see the whole series of images)

Sonja in Swing with Grandpa

May 28, 2004 - 4 Photos