All I want for Christmas

is for the city to pick up my goddamn garbage.

Not to too my own horn, but

Me and J2 sure make some cute babies...toot toot!

Seriously, California, WTF?

Prop 8 passes.

Yes, we did.

My youngest son is sleeping peacefully (for now) next to me, my other son is in his room, tears are in my eyes as I watch Barack Obama give his victory speech. I'm not too vocal with my opinions and passions, but I've been closely watching for the last 8 years as I felt that the country I thought I knew was quickly becoming something I did not recognize, much less love. But maybe now that feeling will be replaced by the hope and faith that we will again become that country my own parents saw way back when, as they left the country of their birth in search of better opportunities for their kids. It's strange to think that all Rocco and Maceo will know is that the President can just as easily be black as s/he can be white (or Flip?).

I'm happy I was able to witness this moment, I'm glad my family will experience this. I'm not oblivious to the fact that times ahead will be hard, but now I feel like celebrating, just a little bit. Maybe this is how the rebels felt at the end of Return of the Jedi, as the remnants of the Death Star rained down like fireworks.

Speaking of, when the networks called the race for Obama, I could hear fireworks going off nearby.

WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS FUCKING CITY?

Tuba man is dead.

Rest in peace, your music was always appreciated, win or lose.

Endorsements 2008

Chimps on Segways

Please, Please, Please...

Do NOT muddy up your bowl of pho by dumping a bunch of hoisin into the broth...it just overpowers the whole thing and disrupts the delicate balance of herbs and spices. Sriracha is fine, but if you must insist, take an extra spoon and put your hoisin there, for dipping your meat. I like to mix it with some lime juice for an extra kick.

Heard on NPR

Rosa sat
So Martin could walk

Martin walked
So Barack could run

Barack ran
So our children can fly

How about some good wholesome fun?

Saturday was spectacular outside, so we packed up the kids and headed out to Carleton Farm for some pumpkin patch fun. When did the pumpkin patch become such a big carnival? There were hay rides, a corn maze, goats, a pumpkin howitzer, and lord knows what else. Roc definitely enjoyed himself, so this looks to be an annual event.

Note: the old 20D just got some new kit, just acquired a 50mm/f1.8 at Glazer's (ask J2 for the story behind that), and shot these photos. It was really bright, and it was midday, so some of the photos are a little overexposed, but I like how the pictures turned out otherwise. Will post the rest to Flickr when I get a chance.

Endorsements 2008

Sandwiches:

Tortas. Next time you're at the taco truck, don't overlook the torta, often overshadowed by its more popular cousins, the burrito and taco. For the unitiated, a torta is basically the Mexican hamburger, a round bun filled with some kind of meat topped by lettuce and tomato. Simple, but wholly satisfying when done right. Most times the meat is basically the usual taco/burrito fillings on a bun,* but one local place called Barriga Llena ("full belly") elevates it into a gut busting pleasure-bomb. Fillings include the Milanesa - basically a pork cutlet breaded and fried, house-cured chorizo, carne asada, hot dogs (unnecessary but included to complete the picture), roast pork, and combinations thereof. One of these will keep you happy for hours. Love 'em.

Banh Mi. One of these, on the other hand, can leave you hungry. Fortunately, they're hella cheap (Never pay more than $2 for one, by the way), and very good. I always buy them in multiples, and it's still cheaper than the #1 meal at McD's. My fave is the BBQ pork banh mi from Seattle Deli.

Philly Cheesesteak. The bread, the bread, the bread. I didn't understand until I actually visited Philly. It doesn't actually taste any better there, but you just don't get that same chewy texture from a Gai's roll. But now I at least know what all of those Right Coast expats are complaining about.

Hoagies: See Cheesesteak, above.

PB&J: When's the last time you had one of these? From about 1983 until Roc started eating solid food, I hadn't even considered having one, but in a fit of desperation during a particularly nasty food tantrum, I slapped one together and stole a few bites for myself. Ahhh, nostalgia.


*Some comedian did a funny bit based on that, basically how American-Mexican food is basically the same 3 ingredients in different combos...I'll have to find it on YouTube.

WIA Poetry Corner

I'm not into poetry; that fact notwithstanding, I heard this on Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac today while munching on a sandwich on my way to a meeting. Something just struck me as being profoundly true.

"Candlelight"
by Tony Hoagland

Crossing the porch in the hazy dusk
to worship the moon rising
like a yellow filling-station sign
on the black horizon,

you feel the faint grit
of ants beneath your shoes,
but keep on walking
because in this world

you have to decide what
you're willing to kill.
Saving your marriage might mean
dinner for two

by candlelight on steak
raised on pasture
chopped out of rain forest
whose absence might mean

an atmospheric thinness
fifty years from now
above the vulnerable head
of your bald grandson on vacation

as the cells of his scalp
sautéed by solar radiation
break down like suspects
under questioning.

Still you slice
the sirloin into pieces
and feed each other
on silver forks

under the approving gaze
of a waiter
whose purchased attention
and French name

are a kind of candlelight themselves,
while in the background
the fingertips of the pianist
float over the tusks
v of the slaughtered elephant
without a care,
as if the elephant
had granted its permission.

Friday morning blogging

or: "I love my son, but..."

Rough night. Ardel and I were at our wits end trying to figure out why Mace seemed so uncomfortable and how we can possibly get some sleep tonight. Frustration led to anger then guilt. I finally took the babe for an hourlong drive.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how I can get him out of his car seat without waking him up. I can't just leave him in there, can I?

Good News is, Huskies Didn't Lose this Weekend

...since it was their Bye week. The Seahawks now officially suck. Maybe I should just give up on football this year.

However, I do take some pleasure in learning that this goat-fucker has taken a bath from the financial crisis.

Endorsements 2008

The cheap umbrella stroller:



Times is hard, you can take those $1000 bugaboos and shove 'em up yer arse.

"Pinoy Backfield" Powers Eastside Catholic

The nut quote:

"I call them the 'Mighty Mites' and for good reason," Marsh said. "There's no lack of effort amongst them. They're not the biggest kids but they're all 6-4 and 230 in their hearts."

Jala2 says no way can our boys play football, they'll be too small. Maybe this will change her mind a little.

Some Cool Things

The guy who worked on the classic Rainier Beer ads reminisces.

A shit knife? Let's see Bear Grylls do that.

A little late, now that the weather is cooler, but here's a way to deal with fruit flies.

Cheapshitcondos? The name says it all.

When's the last time you actually cracked open the Yellow Pages? Me Neither.

All of a sudden, the minivan becomes a real possibility in my life.

For more, visit my Google shared items page.

I bought some groceries yesterday, paid with my WaMu debit card

Oops, sorry. They should have said something beforehand.

On a more serious note, I checked the website and seems to be working still. I would like to stay with them, as they have convenient branches and decent services, but...

And on the 7th Day...

He pooped. Repeatedly.

Yesterday I could smell the ocean

It was nice. Fall is coming.

Maceo Blanquera Jala

The box score:
Born 9/11/2008 at 2:29 PM, 7 lbs 12 oz, 19.5" long.

The name Maceo is a derivative of Mateo, or Matthew, meaning "gift of God," but that's not why we chose the name. Mostly, we just liked the sound of it. We pronounce it "May-see-oh," or usually just Mace for short. The alternate pronunciation is "Mah-chay-oh," but we don't use it, though I've started calling him Macho for fun. We'll see if it sticks.

Looking forward to having you all meet him soon.

edited 9/18

The Brothers Jala

I think the introductions went well. Roc viewed the little bundle with more curiosity than anything at first. We started having issues when Maceo was feeding and Roc wanted some attention from J2. I tried to keep him busy, but it didn't always work. It'll take some time, but I think we'll settle down into a nice little groove, it's only been a day.

I know they'll be best friends.

Liveblogging Huggy

Baby Boy Jala was born around 2:15 this afternoon, in his house, in his room. It is a sunny, warm day. J2 pushed for about an hour, he cried for just a little bit, then started nursing almost immediately. He and Mom are doing just peachy.

Midwives made us some grilled cheese sandwiches, cleaned up, gave BBJ a couple shots. They're gone already, it's just the 3 of us now. Missing Roc, but we need a couple days of peace before introducing him to his bro.

Much to digest, but bottom line is, we're tired, but indescribably happy.

Liveblogging Huggy

not much happening right now, contractions getting stronger and more frequent. she's managing to joke around between them so nothing's imminent probably. midwives think this will go pretty fast though. water hasn't broken yet, but once that does, game on.

Liveblogging Huggy

midwives are watering our houseplants and picking a nice bouquet. just what are we paying them for anyway?

Liveblogging Huggy

We're slow dancing, junior-high style, to "pictures of you"

seems to help with the pain

Liveblogging Huggy

Clutch "Open up the Border" just came up on the birth mix. Dunno why. Midwives appreciated it, at least it ain't Enya.

Contractions getting stronger, definitely takes all of j2's concentration. She's kneeling on the couch, staring out the front window at passersby, who have no idea what's going on in this house.

Liveblogging Huggy

J2 just got some shots, I had to physically throw Goo outside cause she was getting in the way. Hated it.

About to break out the Boggle.

My "Youre my birthing Goddess" shirt is a hit.

Liveblogging Huggy

We just sent Roc off with AJ to stay with Lolo and Lola for a few days. Missing him already, sorry that he won't share in this experience, but he's too young to understand.

Midwives are here, setting up. It's a flurry of activity. Contractions every 3-4 min.

Liveblogging Huggy

Just got the call; I'm at work trying to tie up a few loose ends.  Shazbot!

The Village Takes Care of its Own

Sciencemamma came over last night bearing food. Lots of it, all in handy, easy to reheat containers for post-partum noshing.

Thanks, from the Jalas.

"WTF is PC Load Letter??!?!"

Pretty freakin' cool...



One question: how do they reinforce this bad boy? And can they really pour lintels like that without any formwork whatsoever? (ok, that's 2 questions, but still)

"Is my kid a dick, or is he just 2?"

What sometimes gets lost in the whole hubbub of getting ready to welcome HuggyBear into our world is that Roc is growing and changing into quite the little boy. Our baby is gone, and while I sometimes miss those (much quieter) days, he has become a bubbly, vibrant, inquisitive little man. Introduce him to something new, and now you can almost hear those neurons click into place like so many Legos as he processes this new and wonderful information. It's rather fascinating to witness.

Where there is yin, of course there must be yang. We're definitely on the cusp of the Terrible Twos; his favorite word, next to "more," is probably "no." No vegetables, no clean diaper, no daddy. Granted, he learned it from us, but now that he's started to assert some free will we're sort of free-wheeling as we ping-pong off each other to determine what Roc really wants. "No veggies? How about bananas?" "No diaper? Tough." "No daddy? Go to mama then."

We haven't (yet) had any poo-flinging tantrums or grocery store meltdowns, but it's coming fo' sho', and I'm not even sure how I'll handle it. I hope any dickiness is temporary, though in this culture it'll probably be considered a strength.

Week 38-let's get this show on the road already! Jala2 said it's ok for me to liveblog Huggy's birth, so I'll give it a shot.

Golden Brown and Deelish

Took Jala2 out for lunch yesterday since I had a meeting downtown. She asked "Where do you want to go?" First thing that always pops into my head: Teriyaki! I have weakness for teriyaki joints. Love, love, luuuuurve them. And I ain't talking about no Benihana's, you know, the kind you find in just about every nondescript strip mall or hole-in-the-wall you see around here. Salty, sweet grilled meat on a big pile of rice, yum. It's Seattle's cheesesteak/hotdog/pizza equivalent, and for me, comfort food. It tends to be my go-to option for those days I don't have lunch prepared (which usually consists of leftovers from the night before) or I'm on the road or I'm on my own for any meal, really.

I have high standards when it comes to food, but that all goes out the window when I see "Teriyaki" on the front door, for some reason. I could be sitting down to a plate of grey, rubbery, tasteless meat slathered with sauce straight from the Yoshida's bottle and I'll still find a way to eat the whole thing with a smile on my face. I haven't actually been to a lot of the joints in the area, but that's mostly because there's so many of them and I've narrowed down my faves to a select few:

Happy Teriyaki: That to which all others shall be compared. Here's the thing-I always thought teriyaki came with a side of sauteed cabbage until started expanding my horizons. Sadly, too many places serve the same bagged iceberg salad with some nondescript dressing. Boring. I don't understand why; cabbage is just as cheap and it takes a minute or two to throw it in a pan and toss it around. Oh well. The meat is always nicely grilled and never tough. My preference is plain meat with sauce served on the top, rather than pre-marinated then grilled. Seems like, in that scenario, all I taste is the sauce. Bonus points for having, like, a gajillion stores in the area.

Kiku: Best menu choice, with a number of combo options and non-teriyaki items, such as udon and curry. The teriyaki chicken on the bone is particularly yummy and atypical for Seattle (and an exception for my anti-premarinated preference, but they do it so well). When I was in college and had extra cash (which was typically rare), I'd get the beef combo and scarf it down in 5 minutes. Also, try the Oyakodon, which is chicken over rice with egg on top.

There are plenty of others that I regularly stop into, like Yasuko's, Nasai and any of the Hawaiian joints (if I'm not already craving Kalua pork).

There's a deli down the street from my office run by the nicest Korean couple; the teriyaki isn't very good, but every once in awhile they'll offer bi bim bap. But that, as Alton Brown would say, is another show.

37 weeks

As I look over at the mother of my children, I can see this lump on her distended abdomen move from side to side. Can't be very comfortable. We had a visit from the midwives today, they proclaimed our home suitable for birthing.

Any day now...

I'd hit it...

If I were single, of course. Too bad McSame didn't choose Michael Palin. I might have voted that ticket.

I have a confession to make...

When I was in Budapest a couple years ago, I actually ate a meal at TGI Friday's. I was just really really craving a burger.

I promise it won't happen again.

If I could kick Spain in its collective cojones...

First this:



Then this?



Hoo, boy. Give Spain the Gold for Ching Chong Chinamen mocking.

WANT.

For the kids, of course.

Why does this even need to be asked?

From where I'm at, it's a no-brainer.

Before I forget...

Roc's first word: "Bubble." If you picked that in the pool, congrats, you win a afternoon babysitting.

B minus 10 and counting

Here we go...

Rule of Thumb

More so than shoes, buying a glove specific to a particular sport indicates a high degree of commitment to that sport.

7.7.7 + 365

Jala2 and I celebrated our 1st anniversary last week. Well, "celebrated" may be a little inaccurate, unless kvetching about being 29 weeks pregnant and me with a gimpy foot counts as celebrating. She made me watch Stras' raw wedding footage with her. I forgot how small Roc was back then.

But I'm not complaining. Fact is, I couldn't be happier.

And When I'm in Texas, I'm Reminded of Backwards Hicks

Via HuffPo:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, it is a pleasure to welcome you back to the Oval Office. We have just had a very constructive dialogue. First, I want to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a nation that -- in which there's a lot of Philippine-Americans. They love America and they love their heritage. And I reminded the President that I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine-Americans when I eat dinner at the White House. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Yes.

PRESIDENT BUSH: And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President.

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.

(emphasis mine). *Sigh* It's like when you meet someone and, upon learning you're Filipino, getting asked "Oh, do you know (whatshisorhername)?" No, goddammit! We don't all live together in a 1 room cottage on Beacon Hill.

Actually, I'm a decent cook, but that's beside the point.

I Hate Your Kids

Just now caught this on the Ballard blog. You mean to say that not everyone wants to deal with someone else's uncontrollable, squalling chirrens?

Several Ballard businesses have received some press about their kiddo policy. At Duque Salon + Spa, they have banned children altogether. Their sign reads, “About the little ones … Due to the delicate nature of our business, we ask that children not be brought into the salon, spa or boutique. Thank you.” Apparently moms pushing strollers have been seen flipping off the shop as they walk by and one angry mom had to be escorted out with her toddler. Habitude Salon also has a no-kid rule, leaving some moms in a tiff. The owner of the upscale salon says that it’s not safe having babies around all the chemicals and scissors. Diva Espresso on Phinney Ridge takes a more humorous approach, “Unsupervised children will be given espresso and a puppy.”

Couple things: 1) Business owners are free to serve whomever they want, and 2) parents who voice their displeasure with a petulant bird through the window justify the former's policies.

The comment thread has provided me with my 2 new fave phrases:

"Kindergarchy"
"Crotch Fruit"

Brains!

With his hands held up like that, Roc looks like a zombie, or maybe a Young Frankenstein Welcome to toddlerhood, my man. His confidence is growing quickly; he has pretty much abandoned crawling as a means of transportation. To celebrate his learning how to walk, we bought him some new shoes today at the U. Village sidewalk sale.



Up next: the Electric Slide.

Ong Bak 2: Tony Jaa Tries to get a Haircut

This one's for Mahalie:




Looks badass. Doubt there's much in the way of a story, but I'd hit it.

Rule of Thumb

Google an idea before you publish it, you know, just in case.

Back from Philly

We brought back more than memories and photos; the whole fam has been beset by some kind of wicked chest cold since we returned from the northeast. Man, was it hot, upper 90's during the day, not much cooler at night. Still, it was good seeing friends old and new, introducing Roc to the wonders of a real cheesesteak, and getting some sand between our toes.

Sad to think this is probably our last trip anywhere as a family for awhile. Maybe we can travel with 2 young kids but I can't imagine how we can do it without going batty.

Rule of Thumb

Don't trust a dreadlocked white guy.

Happy Father's Day!

Yay me. Oh, by the way, did your baby's mama get you one of these?



She rocks, more than Gwar. Roc is a lucky kid.

Kids on a Plane

(Rocco learns that it really isn't butter)

Heading out tomorrow for some fun and sun with our East Coast peeps, which forces me to face that which I dread: Flying with Kids. It's not so much the hassle of it all (though it is an incredible one), rather it's another thing I dread: People who Hate Flying with Kids. It's a touchy subject, from both the annoyed (non parental) traveler to the harried, frantic parent. Here's an example from Salon's Ask the Pilot:

[H]ow about a list of the best and worst ideas in airline marketing history? I'll leave the latter to you, and there are plenty to choose from. As for the best, I'll tell you my own pick: Northwest's decision, 20 years ago, to become the globe's first major carrier to impose a systemwide in-flight smoking ban. That'd be a hard one to beat, but here's a challenge to any airline daring enough: a rule that requires the medicating, muzzling or sequestering of all children under 4 years old -- below deck would be nice, or out on the wing.

(emphasis mine) A throwaway comment at the end of an article mainly about American's $15 checked bag fee that ends jokingly (I hope) suggesting kids ride steerage or wingside generates a storm of comments from both sides of the argument. I mean, really? I have no constructive solutions for an already shitty situation, vis-a-vis air travel, but from my perspective, to think that there is a population of people who, upon seeing me and my family arrive at the gate, silently (or maybe not so silently) curse us out for having the gall to leave our house once in awhile, well, I take it personally. Actually, I do have some solutions:

1. ipod + a good set of noise-canceling headphones (I have the Etymotic ER-6i)
2. Fuck You, You Fucking Fuck.

As parents, we are perhaps a bit hypersensitive about the way Roc behaves around others, though in reality there's nothing we can do about it except to distract and redirect. Not like you can argue/reason with a 1 year old. All I ask is for a little understanding and patience; if Roc is upset or acting up, you can be sure Jala2 and I are on it, dealing with it as best we can. We're not one of those parents who sit/sleep idly by and let their spawn wreak havoc with everyone's fun.

As frustrating as flying is, doesn't it make you want to cry sometimes?

The eye in the sky, looking at you

Happy Mother's Day! Roc and I gave jala2 a Flip Video camera this year. Initial review: great for what it does, which is basically to shoot youtube/web videos for sharing with friends and fam. The UI is simple, just a couple buttons, and fairly easy to operate right out of the box. Downloading is a snap, just "flip" out the attached USB dongle and plug into your computer. Works on both Winblows and Mac and even can download straight to your fave video sharing site (well, not all of them). Thumbs down on the non-removable memory (up to 1hr of video) and no optical zoom, but that's kinda nitpicky.

Jala2's posted a couple clips of us goofin' around.

What are We Doing Wrong?

Our wits are being tested again--Saturday, Roc woke up, had a bottle and joined Jala2 and me in bed, all happy happy. Next thing we know, milk's shooting out of his mouth and all over us (well, mostly mom). Then about half an hour later, Roc let loose a stream of liquid poo that no earthly diaper could contain. Wash, rinse and repeat about every two hours for the rest of the weekend. Haven't we been through this before not too long ago?

Could be another fun week. Hey Freddy's, better stock up on that Pedialyte.

OK NO

I have no words for the disgust this whole episode elicits, except for this: in a way, I'm proud of the city for saying "fuck you, no longer will we allow ourselves to be shaken down anymore!" We would not play that game, and get cowed into footing the lion's share of the bill for a new arena.

So the NBA has taken their ball and wants to leave. No suprise, the billionaire community won't turn on its own, at least until someone comes along with a better deal. And let's be real, Oklahoma City, you are the "rebound girl" in this scenario.

As a lifelong Supes fan, I'm incredibly saddened by the way this went down. I'm not hardcore by any means, but this team has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. So very sad.

Cause I Live and Breathe This Philadelphia Freedom

Ok the plan's set, we're heading east for a week in June. First we'll be in Philly w/Nik and JayBay, then off to Point Pleasant. Jerzee Shore y'all! Then we'll hop the train and head to NYC to visit Ame and the rest of the crew...

Thank goodness for the government and their stimulus checks.

Is this a Daddy Blog now?

Sorry.

Happy Birthday Taco!

Thanks to Aunt Nic and Uncle J for the new shirt, which has Yoda and the caption "Size Matters Not," in case you can't tell.

We gave him a haircut last night and man, does he look old or what? We tried to maintain the shaggy Noel Gallagher rockstar look but couldn’t quite pull it off. Now it’s more Noel Coward. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a British dandy…

So, Roc, how does it feel to be 1? Seems like you’re handling it fine. Me, it brings out my sentimental side, which you probably don’t care to see. Well, screw you, this is my blog, so here’s the highlights of the last 366:

You came into this world 2 weeks early, announcing your intentions by breaking mom’s water in the middle of a doctor’s exam, right there on the table. It was on a Monday. Don’t worry, they said, first babies never come on time…pfft. 15 hours later you arrived with a wide-eyed, curious expression that seemed to say “What the hell is going on here?” You still do that, and I hope you never outgrow it.

From day one you were an easygoing kid. On your baptism day/your mom and my wedding day you got passed around all afternoon and barely heard a peep from you. I had get on the PA to ask where you were.

You laughed for real for the first time on Father’s Day. Best. Present. Ever.

We took you on your first plane ride for Nic and JayBay's wedding. Not that you’d remember, since you slept the whole time. Coughbenadrylcough.

We took you for your second plane ride to Florida to visit your Lolo and Lola B. The little girl behind us was excited to go to Disney World until we actually took off. She didn’t like the noises and shaking, getting more and more upset until, finally, she screamed “I DON’T WANNA GO TO DISNEY WORLD ANYMOOOORE!” That made the whole plane laugh.

Your mom once asked me what is the one thing I’m looking forward to the most, and my answer was “To play catch with my son.” I know, it’s right out of Field of Dreams, but I always really enjoyed doing the same with my dad.

Goo makes you laugh, for some reason. She doesn’t like you very much, however.

Every day there seems to be something new going on. You’re standing up by yourself pretty good now, and will probably be walking very soon. What then? How soon before you realize that there’s a big world out there, bigger than just me and your mom? I want you to find out what it's all about, yet I don't at the same time. That means you're growing up, and I'm not quite ready for that to happen yet.

We love you, little man.

Mom and Dad

How about the Seattle Pilots?

This is what happens when you focus group something. Why don't you ask actual soccer fans? You mean to tell me Seattle's new MLS team will be named one of these?

• Seattle Alliance
• Seattle Republic
• FC Seattle
  

The teams in my co-rec indoor league are sporting better names than these dogs. Alliance sounds like a taxi cab or insurance company. Republic? Come on, this is a Democratic town. FC Seattle is better, but not very creative. I guess you can call them the Sounders, but maybe it's time to move on.

Hopefully they'll keep Squatch in town when the Sonics move, and make him a soccer mascot.

UPDATE: It's Seattle Sounders FC.

More LOLRocco

I'm probably behind on this but I see that fd's flickr toys has a LOL(blank) generator. Better than my quick photoshop jobby down below.



Ok, it's not that funny...

Crayon Physics

Here's a video game I'd let Roc play any day...



...if he can get me away from the computer long enough

Undercover Parenting

Caught this in the NYT, which asks the question "Is keylogging your kid's computer an invasion of his/her privacy?"

"Some will say that you should simply trust your child, that if he is old enough to go on the Internet he is old enough to know the dangers. Trust is one thing, but surrendering parental responsibility to a machine that allows the entire world access to your home borders on negligence."

My solution? Sure, the kids can use teh intArwebz, but we're going back to dialup. Remember how long it took for porn to load back in the day? If you wanted to see Erika Eleniak's boobs, you had to wait 5 minutes for a single pic to load. Kinda made the whole thing pointless. And forget about trying to DL a movie...

Back on topic: the thing is that I'm my kids' Dad, not their best friend. The trick is to protect them from all dangers while developing a sense of self confidence and responsibility. If I have to play the bad guy once in awhile, so be it. They have to earn their privileges before they're granted, rather than give something to them and hope/assume they can handle it. I think that applies to pretty much everything, not just the internet. Everyone talks about "kids nowadays" and their sense of entitlement, and I don't want mine to be like that.

A work in progress...

Some things ARE cheaper at Whole Foods...

...like pregnancy tests. You eliminate the fancy packaging and complicated digital readings, you can get 3 tests for like 5 bucks, according to Jalanquera.



(note the brilliant use of Comic Sans)

Roc's gonna be a big brother. Yay! Our plan was that we would start working on kidB when he turns 1 (which is only a couple weeks away), but we just accelerated that timeline by around 3 months or so. What can I say? We're fortunate to be so fertile, I guess. You know how it is, you stop breastfeeding, go on vacation, yadda yadda yadda, we're pregnant.

The Shmoo is doing fine, rolling along now at 12 weeks. His/her parents are a little stressed out, though. Happy, excited, but a little anxious. Can we afford another mouth to feed? Can you raise 2 kids in 800 square feet? (Yes, you can, no matter what the McMansion crowd tells you) Can we afford another kid? How is Rocco gonna handle all this? Can we afford another kid in childcare?

We think we're going to have this baby at home, with a midwife and/or a doula. It's not for sure, but we're real close to making that plunge. Not that the hospital was a terrible experience, but we were just 2 nuts in a giant baby machine, and we want to take back some of the control we surrendered (willingly, at the time) to the myriad doctors, nurses, machines that beep insistently, paperwork, hospital food (which actually wasn't that bad) and cramped rooms, all of which took away from what should and can be a quiet, private, family event. Think about it, hospitals are set up to treat everything as a procedure, one that can be predicted and controlled. And it's profitable for the hospital. It's no coincidence that caesarean rates are almost 1 in 3. That's messed up, y'all.

We drank the punch, but we've not gone totally hippie mental. But....it's much cheaper than hospitals or doctors, by maybe 2/3, we're following all the normal prenatal care and tests, we're more than willing to call it off and head to the hospital at the first sign of trouble, and we have a hot tub at home. Bonus! Conventional wisdom says labor for the 2nd child is much easier and faster than the first. Rocco came without much trouble, so we're thinking that this is the way we should go.

There are a few hurdles before we commit fully to it, so stay tuned.

It ain't always dimples and chicken...

To add some yang to the yin around here, here's some unflattering photos of Rocco:







I kid because I love.

Where We've Been Lately

Taco has had the runs since last Tuesday, so we've been at Threat Level Mustard Yellow for the last 5 days. Doc says keep him hydrated and it'll all be over in 7-10 days. WTF?! He seems to be handling it ok, though he's not his usual cheery self, especially when the tummy cramps kick in. So, Roc's in size 6 diapers for the time being.

Couple weeks ago, Taco and I grabbed a Chipotle burrito and went to the Democratic caucus. I signed in as an Obama supporter, though I'd be satisfied if either he or Hillary were to win the nomination. My precinct elected 2 delegates each for Hillary and Barack, while 1 went to Uncommitted. I don't think any other candidate has ever stirred me into action like Obama has (I even tried to get into the big rally at the Key), and judging by the big showing by my fellow GenX'ers, I wasn't alone. Look out, Boomers.

We had "Retztagg" over for dinner on Wednesday. Made Mussels in Puttanesca sauce over linguine. Mmm. Happy 1st anniversary.

As Jala2 says, some things are cheaper at Whole Foods. More on that later.

MSFT, keep your grubby hands off Flickr!

Or Roc will slobber all over you.

Yah Mo B There

Robb turned us on to the smooooth series "Yacht Rock," chronicling the rise of the soft rock superstars of the '70's. Ardel's sick of me singing like Michael McDonald already. So what if I'm 2 years late to the party?

What I'm Reading

Here's a few parent-centric blogs that I've been reading regularly lately:

Metrodad is a designer with a toddler living in NYC. His wry observations about raising a daughter often crack my shit up. His latest post about the evils of a certain corporation (hint: rhymes with "fizznee") is spot on.

Ricedaddies puts an Azn spin on parenting, though the members of the blogroll (which includes the aforementioned Metrodad) encounter all of the universal parental issues. Mostly having to do with poop.

Daddtypes The post on early Sesame Street episodes is worth the price of admission alone.

Thingamababy Product reviews of cool stuff that won't fit in our house, and more.

One Year Left

Just noticed the Dubya countdown clock (lower right on this page) just hit the 365 day mark. I plan to celebrate by going shopping.

Mo' Money, Mo' Betta

As part of "Get Healthy 2008 With the Jalas," we're in the midst of getting our financials in order. This was a long time coming, not just because we're combining 2 households and need to make sure Roc's set up for the future, but I am terrible at managing money and we seem to be spending a lot of it lately. Considering I'm the son of an accountant, it's pretty sad. But also being a consultant, I know when it's time to bring in the experts and the value of that knowledge.

Jala2 got the name of a financial planner from a friend of a friend, and after laying out our lives with details that even our families aren't aware of, we have our report. Good news is there's no red, bad news is that the black is more of an 70% grey. Though we're not at paycheck to paycheck status, we aren't funding the goal side of our plan as much as we want. Stuff like vacations, paying down CC debt faster, replacing the Subie in a few years, upgrading Casita Jalanquera, etc. But we have a plan now, so at least we know what we need to do to get there.

We also talked about "Plan B," you know, what happens if one of us kicks the bucket. I already have life insurance from a previous life, but it's not enough to cover everyone/everything. Jala2 hardly has any. So we spent some time filling out a stack of forms for life insurance. I forgot how bloody intrusive it is, trying to maintain some dignity while explaining every fart and bloody nose we've had in the last 7 years. Then there's the pee and blood tests. We're convinced we'll get rejected, but maybe that's from watching this movie.

Next task: get our wills made.

Learning to love The Villages

If I seem unusually relaxed after this holiday season, it's probably because I'm still gellin' like a retiree.  We spent our break between Xmas and New Year's visiting Mom and Dad B. at their pad in the Villages, near Orlando, and I gotta say, I had even more fun that I was expecting.  Really, how much fun can it be partying with 60,000 of our elders?  Let's crunch some numbers:

• Golf your ass off: 22 executive (9 hole) courses and 9 championship (27 hole) courses.
• Drink your ass off: 2 fer 1 drinks during Happy Hour at the town square.  Everybody gets the senior discount, and there's dancing every evening.
• 78: about the average daytime temp. while we were there. 
  

Setting aside for a second my professional opinion about the development itself (bland architecture aside from the town squares, no visual differentiation between the different "villages," confusing wayfinding, car-oriented circulation system, etc.), I found myself caught up in the general sunny attitude of the place.  At times it did veer into the forced friendliness that you get from your average salesman but overall it seemed everyone was genuinely happy to be living there (just ask Pops how he likes it there and be ready for a long dissertation on the benefits of the Villages).  Who wouldn't, if every day was a weekend in Florida?  Even the retired folk slinging burgers at Johnny Rockets looked like they were just hanging out with their friends.

Hope you all had a wonderful Holidays, and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Rocco, take your knife and go outside and play...

One of these days I think it would be fun to attend a TED conference.

Gever Tulley, founder of the Tinkering School, talks about our new wave of overprotected kids -- and spells out 5 (and really, he's got 6) dangerous things you should let your kids do. Allowing kids the freedom to explore, he says, will make them stronger and smarter and actually safer.

I agree with all of this 110%. It's a complex world, one that is both dangerous and exciting, often all at the same time. The sooner my kids understand how it works the sooner they can manipulate it to their own whims. People often equate safety with avoidance, but what happens when kids are taught to fear everything?

2007 in review

Nothing happened last year.