After spending last weekend in DC, Maya's settled back in nicely this week to her regular San Francisco schedule. Morning nap after breastfeeding early. Out into the Park to listen to podcasts and interact with the homeless people getting their days underway - Maya's still awaiting my podcast to begin this Fall and she looks forward to helping with the promotional work. Afternoon nap after taking down increasingly prodigious amounts of oatmeal and fruit/veggie goop. An early evening bath. Wrapped around time on her activity mat where she no longer seems interested in sitting up when she can toss toys out in front of her and then lunge after them. Maya's even occassionally begun a sort of backwards crawl maneuver when she gets splayed out on her tummy doing that sort of toy retrieval exercise. We're still waiting for official crawling to commence. Today I put up a playpen that I'd forgotten we'd received from one of Sarah's collegues and Maya seemed content in her new space. But I think she realizes it is little more than a glorified cage. Anyhoo, her head's also filling up with teeth - her two bottom front teeth will soon be somewhat unequally matched by one up above that's almost poking through. And she's chomping hard on her left side so we know something else is coming in there. The gleeful exclamations and hard-charging rants that she's been emitting for months have become much more insistent. About what, we're still unsure. No words yet. Unless "ahhhhummmarrrrguhmaaawaaah" is a word. So, as I've been somewhat less voluminous in presenting as of late, I hope all her fans realize that she's doing great and progressing accordingly. Tomorrow we start swimming lessons - expect some pics soon thereafter.
I haven't recapped our DC trip as of yet, so I'll step back just a bit to do so. The protest march and festival on Saturday were huge and largely well-contained. I hated to see all the coverage of the counter-protest bunk, especially because those groups amounted to at best a few hundred people (militant frat boys and off-kilter preacher-types holding aloft their Bibles). Maya did fine with the roiling masses and she's surely a vitriol-melting weapon against foes and unruly friends alike. And then on Sunday we did a tour through the National Zoo. The Giant Pandas were zonked out, the Great Apes were placid and no Komodo Dragons were viewable at the time we strolled on through. Yet Maya seemed playful and impressed with the spectacle, taking special note of the Pygmy hippos (one of nature's cutest ugly animals). We got to show her off to some close family friends - Robin and Paul and their middle daughter Megan. Good times. Even while the Pack fell to 0-3 and the nation mourned.
For those of you that check here for my take on the newz of the era outside of Mayaness, I can hardly keep up. This week especially. Tom Delay gets indicted. William Bennett makes himself the story once again by saying that one way to reduce the crime rate would be to abort all black babies. John "I won't comment on my even my middle name which may or may not be Glover" Roberts gets confirmed for life. Gross abuses of the billions being sent to the Gulf Coast coming to light. Judith Miller finally getting a get-out-of-jail-free card from what I believe is far from the only Bushie nicknamed "Scooter", Cheney's Chief I. Lewis Libby. The Guvuhnator vetoing the gay marriage bill here in Cullyforneeya. The start of the new TV season, featuring a less-than-tight "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and some crackin' good episodes of "Lost". The New Brew Crew pulling to 80-79 with 3 games to play en route to their first .500 season since '92 (I LOVE this team and for the first time since I had a long red ponytail look forward to next season). Stories, stories, everywhere. If August is the slowest news month of the year, September is the red hot opposite. And with everyone expecting a Dubya announcement of his new Sandra Day O'Connor replacement this coming week, October will only turn up the volume. In all this, it's easy to miss the fact that 13 American soldiers died in Iraq in the last 4 days and we're rapidly closing in on 2000 dead. People are paying attention, though. That you can count on. At least until the baseball playoffs begin this week. Kidding.
Thanks for checking in. Podcast ideas and technical specs for my offering are forming into a delicious sauce. If you've got suggestions on things I should include, let me know. Rock on.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Friday, September 23, 2005
Off to DC for the weekend
The Gulf Coast is freaking out. A levee in N'Awlins! has broken again this morning, flooding the worst hit parts of the City before Hurricane Rita has even made landfall. Dubya's doing another distracting tour of the area, before heading to Colorado Springs to monitor from a facility with better mountain biking trails in the vicinity. And what about us here in surprisingly sunny San Francisco? Well, we're headed to DC in a few hours - Sarah's got a work thang there over the weekend. I love DC and this weekend will be a busy one in the District with competing Iraq protests and counter-protests in addition to a bundle of other stuff going on around the National Mall. I'm planning to take Maya on some power walks and will post a bundle of pics as things progress. But hopefully you and yours have all your plywood up and are ready for what ever the weekend will hold weather-wise. Stay safe. Rock on.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Question #1: Who did you vote for in the last election?
This is an amazing time of year for sports fans, even if your teams are among the suckiest. Week 2 of the NFL season, baseball down the stretch, and all the assorted college and autumnal stuff. From my sporty perspective, the Packers look horrible and the New Brew Crew got swept by the Astros over the weekend to take the air out of the sails for Milwaukee and Brewers Nation. As far as the Pack goes, Favre looks sad. Our defense is horrid. Losing to the generally-lowly Browns at Lambeau. Sheesh. Times have most surely changed for our legacy. And the briefly bright Brewers's future is once again a struggle with undershooting even the most modest goals. Finishing at .500 would mean a lot for that team. Finishing below .500 will have an even greater effect. They need to pull it together - 73-76 with 13 games to play. Totally doable, but they need to go at least 8-5, which ain't easy this time of year. Regardless, it's a very different atmosphere than anytime but the early '80s when the Brewers have a brighter future than the Packers.
The stories that are coming out of N'Awlins! continue to darken. The NYTimes goes big with a piece on those that died in nursing homes and hospitals, with a current total of 154. So all that crap from Conservatives about those people that chose not to leave looks as ridiculous as it should have looked when they were allowed to say those sorts of things. But the bigger issues that I see are the money ($62.3B and counting) and contracting practices that're gonna make the corruption of the Big Dig in Boston look like a neighborhood park retooling. And the remaining storm season that's looking pretty ugly right now has to be a concern for anyone living in coastal areas. Just imagine if we need to rely on the Bushies to manage another big storm. So I won't be surprised if we pre-emptively attack some upcoming tropical storms. "Because if we fight 'em over there, we won't have to fight 'em here."
We started interviewing nannies yesterday. 2 of 3 showed up - one a young Irish chick (or squirrel or whatever the kids be called these days), the other a rather scary older Austrian woman. The Austrian governess-type had a baby talk voice that could curdle milk. Maya played nice with both, but she didn't ask a single one of the questions I put together for her. Slacker. We need to interview more folks. We've even got a manny (male nanny) on the list. Hope he's cute.
The stories that are coming out of N'Awlins! continue to darken. The NYTimes goes big with a piece on those that died in nursing homes and hospitals, with a current total of 154. So all that crap from Conservatives about those people that chose not to leave looks as ridiculous as it should have looked when they were allowed to say those sorts of things. But the bigger issues that I see are the money ($62.3B and counting) and contracting practices that're gonna make the corruption of the Big Dig in Boston look like a neighborhood park retooling. And the remaining storm season that's looking pretty ugly right now has to be a concern for anyone living in coastal areas. Just imagine if we need to rely on the Bushies to manage another big storm. So I won't be surprised if we pre-emptively attack some upcoming tropical storms. "Because if we fight 'em over there, we won't have to fight 'em here."
We started interviewing nannies yesterday. 2 of 3 showed up - one a young Irish chick (or squirrel or whatever the kids be called these days), the other a rather scary older Austrian woman. The Austrian governess-type had a baby talk voice that could curdle milk. Maya played nice with both, but she didn't ask a single one of the questions I put together for her. Slacker. We need to interview more folks. We've even got a manny (male nanny) on the list. Hope he's cute.
Friday, September 16, 2005
How many of you expect the generators in Jackson Square are already packed up and back on a truck?
I haven't seen the numbers yet, but I expect that more than a few Americans watched Dubya last night. I still can't believe that they stage-managed it in Jackson Square with lights on the Catherdral and the statue of Andrew Jackson and the whole frickin' green area. Dubya gave an amazing speech. Seriously. To have this guy talking about race and poverty in the face of an actual Federal failure - this is history. But a history I surely believe the Bushies hoped to avoid confronting. Dubya's calling for a laundry list of Federally-run programs and the $62B that Congress already openly laments giving is good as gone. This whole shpiel should cost $200B. Two Biggiddy Benjimins. Holy crap. When those bills start a comin', the Conservatives in Congress are gonna break ranks. Start calling for spending cuts in other already-cut-to-shit programs across the board. But no Budget gets anywhere near finding two biggiddy benjimins from anywhere. Even if the Bushies get the money (which they probably will), they're stuck managing the re-construction of a massively screwy Southern city. Below sea level. Largely destroyed and yet probably in need of further destroying. Corrupt and pissed. N'Awlins! If you don't think that's a failure waiting to happen, I've got some soggy costal property that I can get you in on the ground floor. Cash up front. Let me know.
The New Brew Crew whalloped the D'Backs last night - 14-2. Even the pitcher had two RBIs. They're back to .500, 5 games back of Houston in the Wildcard Race with 16 games left. Ned Yost has those kids having serious fun. I also like the Indians, and think of a friend (Goldy) living in Cleveland again after years away with his family of serious fans. That's fun. Like New England again this time of year, with the days shortening greatly, a chill coming soon, and the gawddamn Sox in First Place. Fun. Watching Barry Bonds come back to the Giants looking every bit the bloated roidhead that he's always been. Not at all fun. Hope it's fun in the sun for the rest o' you, too. Rock on.
The New Brew Crew whalloped the D'Backs last night - 14-2. Even the pitcher had two RBIs. They're back to .500, 5 games back of Houston in the Wildcard Race with 16 games left. Ned Yost has those kids having serious fun. I also like the Indians, and think of a friend (Goldy) living in Cleveland again after years away with his family of serious fans. That's fun. Like New England again this time of year, with the days shortening greatly, a chill coming soon, and the gawddamn Sox in First Place. Fun. Watching Barry Bonds come back to the Giants looking every bit the bloated roidhead that he's always been. Not at all fun. Hope it's fun in the sun for the rest o' you, too. Rock on.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
"Bow down, Puny Humans, to my Socialist Agenda!"
Bush goes before the nation tonight from New Orleans. Sponsored by Jose Cuervo. Seriously, how stage-managed does anyone expect this kernel of Dubya to be? This is like a final exam from the School of Rove for some young scapegoat. The Bushies need to turn the tables on this story. Right now, they look like disconnected, vacationing parties to a crime. Iraq is darkening. The Budget is busted. Not a pretty picture for whomever's got the reins. "Stay the course" jingoism won't convince people you've got a plan anymore. Dubya's probably in practice sessions all day. He's so busy, he might have to miss his two-hour workout...nah, that's just crazy talk.
John Roberts is almost in place according to the dark "Mancurian Candidate" cabal pulling the strings in wait. He's too smart for Senators. They're all asking questions that I'm sure any first-year law student would laugh at - either full of errors or reee-deee-kulusly soft and leading. But just imagine if Roberts actually was a liberal cyborg placed within the conservative matrix. Or something equally derivative. He makes all the right friends, goes to the right churches and secret "Eyes Wide Shut" conservative get-togethers. Yet he's just waiting to radically shift the nation through his swing vote and ability to choose cases for the docket. This way it's so much more fun to ponder. Because if it's just the same old Conservatives win a battle in an overly tilted two-party system, I'm bored already. Just confirm the bastard and let's get back to what's important.
Like the Milwaukee Brewers. They lost a tough one last night - 2-1 against the Diamondbacks in 12 innings. So they briefly drop below .500 once again. I'm telling ya - this is a good team. Emphasis on the "team". Keep 'em together and add a few hot free agents and Wisconsin might actually have a winner...nah, that's crazy talk. But at least I know when I've gone to far.
John Roberts is almost in place according to the dark "Mancurian Candidate" cabal pulling the strings in wait. He's too smart for Senators. They're all asking questions that I'm sure any first-year law student would laugh at - either full of errors or reee-deee-kulusly soft and leading. But just imagine if Roberts actually was a liberal cyborg placed within the conservative matrix. Or something equally derivative. He makes all the right friends, goes to the right churches and secret "Eyes Wide Shut" conservative get-togethers. Yet he's just waiting to radically shift the nation through his swing vote and ability to choose cases for the docket. This way it's so much more fun to ponder. Because if it's just the same old Conservatives win a battle in an overly tilted two-party system, I'm bored already. Just confirm the bastard and let's get back to what's important.
Like the Milwaukee Brewers. They lost a tough one last night - 2-1 against the Diamondbacks in 12 innings. So they briefly drop below .500 once again. I'm telling ya - this is a good team. Emphasis on the "team". Keep 'em together and add a few hot free agents and Wisconsin might actually have a winner...nah, that's crazy talk. But at least I know when I've gone to far.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
72-72 - Harvey's Wallbangers for the House!
It took long enough to get back to .500, but the New Brew Crew yesterday evened their record at 72-72. 18 games to play. They've got a bunch of young talent, including last night's winner, Chris Capuano, who was the first Brewer pitcher since Teddy Higuera in '86 to win 17 games in a season. If they finish off at .500 or over, it will be the first time since '92. I like Ned Yost. I like Richie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, Derek Turnbow and bit and chunks of all the others. I had a guy in our local bakery (Arizmendi) from near La Crosse ask how the Brewers were doing. When I told him, he smiled and said that he'd have to start paying attention to them again. I paid $3.35 for the loaf - weighed, all bread should be. The Brewers provided me the best tip I've given someone in quite a while. Hope they keep it up.
I'll take Maya over Herb Kohl or Sam Brownback anyday of the week
So after all this time since Hurricane Katrina transformed the Gulf Coast into the nation's new largest trailer park, Bush apologizes. Sort of. Takes responsibility. Sort of. And we're all supposed to say, "ahhh - I feel much better." While at the same time incidents of previously unimagined fubar tragedies surface. Like that nursing home full of drowned invalids and FEMA still gettin' a good beat down by the good folks in Louisiana a full two weeks after a diaster. The Bushies are scared shitless that this whole BrownieGate landslide will just keep rollin' into the Fall. While the Dems scamper around waiting for scraps of ideology to fight coming from the iron-willed, unattainably-snarky-smartlawyerness of John Roberts' hearings. Nothing will come from that puppy - too well-schooled and programmed since his Freshman year in rapidly ascending Conservative lawyerdom. And out here in Cullyforneeya, Arnold's screwed. Vetoing a gay marriage bill? So now I think he's trying to self-destruct to get out of his contract to make this picture work in 2006. Nobody can be that obviously wrong when you look at your constituencies and expect to come back for another term. He's just waiting for the big fight scene with the Legislature when he can get back to the script and bloody up the joint. Time's like this for this political junkie make me glad I've got a brilliantly adaptive monster in the form of a 6-month-old daughter to make me reach for the mute button.
Maya's kickin' major ass - two teeth in full sight, a not-so-enthusiastic appreciation for peas but a hankering for as much apple goop as she can get thrown her way, a mobility that's quickly headed from sitting to scooting toward any coffeetable or phone cord within the realm of possibility. Every day's a new set of accomplishments, often repeated with vigor to the point of irritation. Maya easily handled the last few weeks of being in Seattle then the broadly-boring hinterlands of Chicagoland. But here she seems to fall much more happily into a schedule. Loves the Park. Talks almost constantly. And she makes this face where she krinkles up her nose and breathes through her two front lower toothy nubs. Hilarious. I'll try to capture a shot of it later in the day.
Biden's questioning Roberts now, trying to talk all folksy with him. And Roberts is not letting the debate veer in any way away from his lawyerly persona. Gonna be a long day there. Hope yours is less staged-managed. Rock on.
Maya's kickin' major ass - two teeth in full sight, a not-so-enthusiastic appreciation for peas but a hankering for as much apple goop as she can get thrown her way, a mobility that's quickly headed from sitting to scooting toward any coffeetable or phone cord within the realm of possibility. Every day's a new set of accomplishments, often repeated with vigor to the point of irritation. Maya easily handled the last few weeks of being in Seattle then the broadly-boring hinterlands of Chicagoland. But here she seems to fall much more happily into a schedule. Loves the Park. Talks almost constantly. And she makes this face where she krinkles up her nose and breathes through her two front lower toothy nubs. Hilarious. I'll try to capture a shot of it later in the day.
Biden's questioning Roberts now, trying to talk all folksy with him. And Roberts is not letting the debate veer in any way away from his lawyerly persona. Gonna be a long day there. Hope yours is less staged-managed. Rock on.
Monday, September 12, 2005
"The Packers make me SOOOO mad!"
Maya got ahold of a Spaldeen this evening and showed incredible instincts as a pitcher thereafter.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
"America - F#*k Yea!"
We'll be back in SF soon and our regular posting schedule will return. But until then, Maya hopes you understand that it's her Dad's fault that we've not updated the world on our progress much this week. Regardless, the following photos are for those of you we entirely treasure and welcome as our regular visitors. Please check back soon - we won't disappoint. Many changes coming. Some should be entertaining. We hope.
Illinois - "We Welcome Tasteless Rednecks, Too"
As seen from my family's Buick returning from a begrudgingly necessary trip to the closest Naperville Starbucks. But in this guy's defense, the dude holding up traffic in front of him had a plate that read "Yea, well I'm blind".
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Maya shows that not only the cereal is tasty
Originally uploaded by emaggie.
Maya and Herb soak in the Labor Day Parade
We're in Naperville, IL where Sarah's got a week-long Board prep course. If you're not familiar with Naperville, imagine Chicago. Then imagine 30 miles West. Imagine strip malls and McMansions as far as the eye can see. Imagine the "biggest Labor Day Parade in Illinois". Imagine Republican candidates for every office surrounded by the adoring masses only dwarfed by the masses around the rockin' evangelicals' floats. Imagine Maya enjoying an associated end of the summer festival (they call it "the Last Fling") with her Grandma and Grandpa who made the trip down from Wisconsin. Imagine a good time had by all.
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