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September 27, 2005

Old Streets
Gorgeous weather here this morning, so we decided to stroll around downtown. The river footbridge construction obviously isn't finished, but at least they're still allowing people to cross.

We enjoyed our first visit to Rex Hardware, all winding rooms and creaky old wooden floors. It took a little time to find the colored electrical tape we were looking for, but the hunt was interesting.

The big furniture store is closing, so we ducked in to check out the sale. The tags only showed the original prices, and haggling sucks, so I don't know if it's worth a return or not.

Since the thrift store was relatively quiet, I decided to risk cramming the stroller through the aisles. Good thing, because I picked up a couple of nice handled cloth activity books that should keep Daniel amused for at least a while on our flights next month.

And throughout all this (plus a trip to Copperfield's, of course), he was just perfect and charming. So I thought we'd split a cookie at Pollyann's... but it was gone! Lovely tiny friendly bakery with the pretty cookies and pastries, sob.

So we shared a kid scoop of vanilla at Baskin-R0bbins* instead. I'm fairly certain it made him just as happy.

*Note to self - they have pumpkin!
09/27/05 01:56 PM |  Comments


September 26, 2005

Ambiguity
Apparently if Daniel's not wearing clothes covered in baseballs or dinosaurs, he magically becomes a girl that day.

I don't think he looks like a girl at all, but then, I don't know how objective I can really be about it. Maybe it's the giant doe eyes that throw people off.
09/26/05 11:57 AM |  Comments


September 25, 2005

Coming to an Understanding
It seems the bub offers up a new surprise almost daily now.

This morning - the same as almost all other cold autumn mornings - he had removed one of his wee socks. I spotted it among a scatter of Little People and farm animals. Not pointing at it, I said "Bring the sock to mama!"

And he did. So not only does he know what the word sock means (not terribly surprising, since we often talk to him about inappropriate sock removal), but he understood that I wanted him to do something specific with it. Prior, if he had a miscellaneous object already in his hand, and you asked for it, he'd give it over (if only for a second before snatching it back).

Pretty exciting stuff, this learning!
09/25/05 12:31 AM |  Comments


September 21, 2005

Slacking
Wow, nearly a week since I've updated. Guess I have no right to complain about the lack elsewhere, huh?

Let's see, what's happening. Illustrator I is done in two weeks, but I decided to go ahead and carry on with II for the second half of the semester. I'm going to attempt to earn the certificate, which, while only fourteen credits, still offers many hurdles in the way of daytime class offerings, and things not at this campus. It was just lucky that this semester was in Petaluma and in the evening. A couple of classes are offered online, and the rest I'll just put off as long as possible so that he'll hopefully be old enough that I feel comfortable leaving him in care by the time it's an issue.

Daniel's vocabulary:
  • mama
  • dada
  • buh-buh (for both hello and bye)
  • bah (ball)
  • all done (I haven't heard this one myself, yet)


    • And of course we can't forget "meow."

    His favorite activities at the moment are screaming for the fun of it (ouch) and pushing the garage door button. He's still wary of strangers depending on the day.

    Last night, for the very first time ever, he slept his entire eleven hours without waking even once. And he did it in the crib! If it continues, I'll be one very, very happy (and rested) momma.
    09/21/05 07:40 PM |  Comments


    September 15, 2005

    Personal Cataloging Redux
    LibraryThing - simplified online cataloging for personal collections. Free for 200 books, $10 for an unlimited lifetime membership. Unlike its predecessors (of which I can't even remember the URLs, that's how long it's been since I've visited), it mines the Library of Congress catalog (or Amazon) and allows Flickr-like tagging. Your profile even shows the public members with whom your collection has the most in common. Awesome!

    I'm not nearly finished with my catalog yet, but you can still take a peek.
    09/15/05 11:32 AM |  Comments


    September 14, 2005

    I'll Be Watching...
    ...Badnarik's run for Congress in 2006 closely (Texas District 10). Of course a win is painfully doubtful, but snowballing attention each election for the party in general is still invaluable. Note to self: add Blognarik (erm) to the link list.
    09/14/05 07:30 PM |  Comments


    34
    Today brought:

  • The Season One & Two Moonlighting DVDs from D.
  • ...and some really sinful confectionery (Bitterman S'Mores Balls, can't find them online)
  • New trail shoes, courtesy funding from my Grandma
  • My name and link in a front page story
  • A Scantron sheet, for my exam tonight, meh
    • 09/14/05 02:42 PM |  Comments


    September 13, 2005

    Now With 50% More High-Fructose Corn Syrup!
    Yesterday evening I recorded the premiere of the new Martha (it re-airs daily at 6 pm PDT on TLC), and watched this morning. The jury is still out. It has a lighter, more ha-ha flavor that I'm not sure I can swallow. I mean, it's good that she (or her writing staff) has a sense of humor about the whole incarceration, but showing the crew ankle-braceleted just felt weird on her. The opening credits... bizarre. And the segments with Marcia Cross were a bit too twee. I don't know. Maybe it's an acquired taste. Or maybe I'm just not in the mood for that brand of levity these days.
    09/13/05 12:07 PM |  Comments


    September 11, 2005

    Life Goes On
    Since it was finally cool enough even in the full sun, yesterday we drove down to the Marin Headlands for a trio of letterboxes. Struck out on the first two, and couldn't make it to the last (or the black sand beach, wah). I want to get back into hiking, but I just won't be able to do it without a frame pack for Daniel; he's just too heavy to hang on my front in the wrap. Not to mention that he feels too confined and wriggles out of the shoulder bands, so I end up half-carrying him.

    We were lucky enough to see a partridge hen and her line of four tiny chicks - oh, the adorableness! It seemed late in the season for such small babies, but maybe it doesn't matter so much around the bay (?). There were also horses on the trail, which entertained Daniel. D. got a bunch of photos with his cell; I'll post a link when they're uploaded.

    On the way back, we stopped in Corte Madera at the open air Village. We grabbed some super naughty "Italian" mallfood that starts with Sb, and then picked up Daniel a nifty new toy to bang on. The timing for our visit was great, as the ribbon cutting for the "Muzzy Marsh" tot playland was held just a couple hours before we arrived (which I only found out just now on the website). Daniel was thrilled - but unfortunately equally by the findings on the ground (Cheerios, sticks, etc.) as by the duck, frog, and turtle climbing sculptures.

    ETA - The Photos: Daniel had a fun ride on Mommy, looked cute, saw some horses, drove a boat, crawled through a log, and picked up girls.
    09/11/05 10:00 AM |  Comments


    September 09, 2005

    Mercy
    Mother Nature is being merciful today. This whole week has been sheer relief, but today... today almost makes up for all the "you won't need A/C in Petaluma" lies.
    09/09/05 02:17 PM |  Comments


    September 07, 2005

    Panicpanicpanic
    I can't find the camera anywhere. It's not on my desk, in the stroller, on the kitchen counter where we shove stuff after entering the house, in my purse... not anywhere it would logically be. And I've searched most of the crazy places, too.

    I think I'm going to be sick.
    09/07/05 11:13 AM |  Comments


    September 06, 2005

    Toasty Roasty Veggies
    Quite awhile back, Megan told me about roasting broccoli. Well, I finally got around to trying it, and, yum. Even though I overdid it a bit, and the florets are downright crunchy... I don't see myself making it any other way for the forseeable future. In fact, it's a good reason to buy broccoli more often! Olive oil, garlic/herb seasoning, sesame seeds, sea salt. Over couscous made with half chicken stock and carrot juice. Yum, thanks!

    I bet carrots would be awesome given the same treatment...
    09/06/05 08:56 PM |  Comments


    September 05, 2005

    Embrace the Agoraphobia
    Yesterday we finally made it down to Ikea. Traffic was blissfully light, and if I didn't trigger my vertigo by looking down into the open gutters on the Richmond Bridge, the trip was relatively stress-free.

    Now the crowds inside the store itself - that was a different matter entirely. Pushy, shovey, just too many. In the end I was just too jittery to even look at stuff. The cart made it worse, though; if there's a next time, it'll be with the umbrella stroller or carrier. Or maybe just at the crack of dawn.
    09/05/05 06:00 PM |  Comments


    September 04, 2005

    Put Away Your Politics
    This is all I'll say about it, as there are folks far better suited to the discussion than myself. For a few days, I've been poking at a draft of something with a very similar bent, but far inferior to this.

    I will add, however, that I personally find placing blame on the victims offensive and disrespectful at best. This is just one of many examples why.

    ETA: A considerably more visceral outburst courtesy LJ Libertarians.
    09/04/05 11:02 AM |  Comments


    September 02, 2005

    The Inevitable...
    ...finally happened. Wednesday evening, D. turned to find little legs disappearing through the cat door. Apparently Daniel was pretty pleased with himself. Elli was in the kennel, so of course getting him back inside was a bit of a struggle.

    Today he'll experience his first crayons. Under armed guard, of course, because the white walls aren't ours.

    No one's ever died from wax ingestion, right? Right?

    Update: Red teeth, frustration, and the only marks on the paper are mine. Guess he's not quite ready yet.
    09/02/05 10:20 AM |  Comments