Bring Out Your Dead

(Note: I was gonna put the “Bring our your dead clip” from Monty Python here, but that one’s pretty grim. Instead here’s the coconut discussion.)

I planned on writing this weekend. I really did. Life decided otherwise.

Little T-Mike, nearly a year old now, came down with a bit of sickness Friday night. We would hold him until he fell asleep, we’d put him in his crib, and then he’d wake up again. All night. Eventually my wife and I decided to take care of him in shifts, me from 10:00 PM to Midnight, her from Midnight to 2:00 AM, etc. On the plus side, T-Mike watched Letterman with me for the first time (we both fell asleep through no fault of Mr. Letterman).

Saturday we called the doctor and they told us to bring him to the E.R. (because it was Saturday) and we spent a good portion of Saturday morning and afternoon there. Luckily my sister wasn’t busy so our daughter got to hang out with her aunt while we were at the hospital. Turns out poor T-Mike has an ear infection in each ear.

Went to be early, for me, on Saturday night expecting another long night. Luckily he slept much better as was only up 2 or 3 times. He got a bit of his spirit back Sunday even if his voice is still froggy and he sounds like Darth Vader when he breathes.

So that’s us, just trying to get by and hoping everybody feels better soon. As bad as we feel now, we still have to be thankful that he will feel better, which is something not all families can look forward to.

Winter Song

In honor of the upcoming snow-pocalypse headed my way, I give you Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. Stick with this one to the end. Adorable ending.

Peace and Star Trek

So there’s this website PRX which in their words is “… an online marketplace for distribution, review, and licensing of public radio programming”. It’s a fascinating site with a ton of very good programming (free). I urge you to check it out.

Anyhow, I was browsing around there today looking for something to listen to while I work (this used to be fulfilled by local radio but I got sick of listening to the same songs over and over again) and came across Paul Engle’s show Peace Talks Radio: The Peace Message in Star Trek.

A description of the piece from PRX:

A new Star Trek movie comes out this spring that revisits the stories of Capt. Kirk, Spock, Bones and the characters from the original series. This month Peace Talks Radio notes how many stories in the original series thoughtfully explored the themes of war and peace, tolerance, friendship and compassion. When originally released in the turbulent late 1960’s, Star Trek stories tackled complex issues that mirrored both the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Struggle. Host Paul Ingles talks with David Gerrold, author of The World of Star Trek and the popular episode “The Trouble With Tribbles.”

It was a very enjoyable half hour, listening to this show. It made me appreciate the work of Gene Roddenberry and the heart he brought to Star Trek and science fiction.

Consider this bit of dialogue from the episode titled A Taste of Armageddon Captain James T. Kirk talking:

[War] is instinctive. But the instinct can be fought. We’re human beings with the blood of a million savage years on our hands! But we can stop it. We can admit that we’re killers … but we’re not going to kill today. That’s all it takes! Knowing that we’re not going to kill – today!

I’d like to get that on a t-shirt please.

Anyway, if you have some time check out the piece of PRX. I doubt you will regret it.

Resolutions Follow-Up

If you remember, I made a couple resolutions for the new year. I didn’t call it resolutions though. Instead I said it was stuff I was gonna do in 2010. It’s February now. How am I doing?

1. Complete an plot outline for a novel in January – Fail
   The writing hasn’t been going so well, and I’ve faltered a bit trying to think of an interesting idea for a novel. I think I have one now. Just a matter of putting my butt in a seat and getting it done.
2. Start lifting weights again at least three days a week – Success
   On the other hand, I’ve been very faithful in working out three nights a week. This makes me so happy. I won’t lie and say it was easy after that first week, but it is getting easier. I’ll probably never be where I was before the kids, but it’s better than nothing.

So I’m one for two today, which would be good if I were playing baseball. I will accomplish goal #1 this month. Guaranteed.

Hemo the Magnificient

Back in the distant past of the nineteen eighties we didn’t have dvds and even vhs tapes were expensive. And so, they used to show us films in school, using an actual film projector in a dark room. It was great.

Of course these films were usually of the educational variety. Some were good (such as the You are There series featuring Walter Cronkite) and some weren’t. My favorite, though, was Hemo the Magnigicent.

Hemo the Magnificent is an educational film, directed by Frank Capra and featuring Mel Blanc(!), about the circulatory system featuring cartoon animals and live action actors. It’s really a cute and funny film. Don’t take my word for it. You can check out the first ten minutes at YouTube. You’ll recognize Mel Blanc’s voice right away.

I really need to pick this up on DVD.

A Night At the Symphony

For my wife’s birthday she told me she wanted to go to a concert for our local symphony. It sounded nice to me for a couple reasons. #1 it would make her happy. #2, grownup night without the kids.

And so, after a hectic day and a quick meal/open presents/blow out candles dinner with my family (the babysitters in this equation – thanks mom and day and sister and brother-in-law), we were on our way to the symphony.

Now, when I say local symphony, I’m talking about the Nittany Valley Symphony. These are local musicians, but I’m pretty sure not all communities have these types of local musicians. Being this close to the university we get world class musicians that are also professors at the university. For example, the night’s featured soloist on the violoncello, Kim Cook, “has performed to critical acclaim as a soloist in 26 countries including the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, China, Israel, Jordan, Latin America, and throughout the United States”.

You know how they say certain guitarists “melt faces”? Well, Ms. Cook melted my face with the violoncello. I lack words to describe the performance. You really had to be there.

The piece I most enjoyed was Cello Concerto in B minor, by Antonín Dvořák. If you click on that link you can listen to a performance of the Concerto, though again it’s not the same as being there in person. I still recommend it, though.

So yeah, it was just a great night. The type of night we won’t soon forget. Much better than the typical dinner and a movie night. There’s just something about witnessing artists doing what they love, putting every once of themselves into their work that’s just magical. Also, no dirty diapers or tantrums.

Charming Book – The Little House

As I mentioned Friday, I nearly lost my voice last week from what I eventually found out was a sinus infection. It was a rough week or so, but I am finally feeling a bit better. In fact I hope to be able to resume my workouts this week.

As all of you parents know, when you are sick and have little kids in the house, you don’t really get any time to just “be sick” or “get some rest”. You pretty much have to do your normal parenting routine, except with ten percent the energy. Just how it works. And so, I still had to read my daughter to sleep last week, even though I had almost no voice left.

And so, Thursday night, we went to her room for night time. She normally chooses the books (you will get in serious trouble if you try to choose, trust me), but sometimes I can make suggestions. I suggested the book above, The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton. She agreed, along with several other book choices which I put on her nightstand, knowing full well she would only make it through one book. Still have to dance the dance though.

My daughter took her spot on the bed, under the covers and all peaceful, and I took my spot beside her, above the covers (for a more seamless exit when she was asleep) and sitting up. I knew as soon as I started reading I was in trouble, my voice just barely holding on after one page. It was then that I remembered that The Little House was a pretty long story for a board book. As my voice faded to a whisper, I contemplated skipping pages, but knew she would not go for it. The kid has an excellent memory and would surely notice such a scheme. My other hope was that she would fall asleep before the end of the book. Again, no dice. She held on to the very end of the story, at which point my voice was indeed a faint whisper. Luckily for me, there was no call for an encore and she fell asleep.

For those of you who have little ones in the house, or those of you that like a good kid’s book, I really do recommend The Little House. It’s a story of well, a little house, that is built in the country, but eventually get enveloped by the creep of “progress” and winds up in the city, only to be rediscovered by the great-great granddaughter of the man who built the house long ago. It really is a sweet story.

Health Update

First of all, Van Halen from the Roth, David Lee days. I actually prefer Sammy Hagar, but whatever. This song has one of my favorite guitar openings of all time. Go Eddie Van Halen.

You know, what they hey. Here’s a second video. This one from Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey. The song is actually by Kiss, the only their songs I like (God Gave Rock and Roll to You).

Yes, I’m phoning it in again. I finally feel a little better, though. Got some medicine for a sinus infection, after finally going to the doctor’s office after losing my voice. Maybe I’ll tell that tale on Monday.

Walker

I’m still sick, and now sound like a 10 pack a day smoker. However, something momentous happened that I just had to post about. My son, Luigi in the picture above, has taken his first steps at 10 months of age (almost 11 months). Walking is not his only means of transportation right now. He still likes to crawl and is much better at that. However, he’s becoming more brave with the walking.

Anyhow, just thought I’d share the good news. Now back to the sniffle sniffle, cough cough.

Sick

No real post today because I haven’t really done much, to be honest. After a week of the kids being sick, now my wife and I are sick. I hope to be back to posting on a regular schedule soon.