Lincoln and Darwin: 201st edition

Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin. Two brilliant men, unrelated in every way but linked for all time because they happen to share a birthday.



My favorite US President from American history and the man whose theory has poisoned the minds of brilliant men and women in the last 150+ years.

Oh, well. Nothing to be done about it now.

Happy Birthday, boys.

The big 2-0-0.

Today marks the 200^th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. As you know, Mr. Lincoln is my favorite President in American history. Sometimes I wonder how the history of our country would be different if Lincoln had not been assassinated. If Lincoln's reconstruction plan had been put into effect, how would the racial climate in this country have differed in the years and decades after the Civil War (or War Between the States if you're from the South) from what we know happened from the history books? Good questions all, and ones for which we'll never know the answer.

Oh, yeah. This guy was born 200 years ago today too. I only mention him because if I don't, American Guy probably will (make some remark about it, like he's done before.)

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Left work early today, I did. Not feeling too great, I am. Fever, chills and all that. I feel a nap coming on. Perhaps I'll fall asleep to a good movie.

Like Ahhhhnold, though, I'll be back.

And so I am. Back that is. K wasn't too happy with me when I informed her that I won't be taking V and M this weekend, due to my bout with feverish symptoms today.

I might not go to work tomorrow, depending on how I feel in the morning. The problem there is that, while I have the sick-time available to me, there's so much I won't get done that will be staring me in the face come Monday.

No, I don't get President's Day off, either. Wish I did.

The big 4-0.

Yeah, my turn is coming in four months or so...you want to fight about it?

But this post isn't about me. Really.

One of my favorite actresses turns 40 today. Can you guess who??


Duh.

9!!!!!!!

M turned nine today, precisely at the time I've used for this post. I'm still in shock and awe over it.

Couldn't have happened to a cooler kid.

Happy Birthday, M!!!! I love you buddy.

What did I get M for his birthday?

A three ring D-ring binder for his football cards, which I actually gave him two weeks ago.

A basic Rummikub game, so he can play it with his sister V at home and get K (ex) hooked as well.

A gift card to Game-Stop, so he can trade in his Gameboy and upgrade to a DS.

I'd post a picture of him but I don't do that here for reasons previously expounded upon in this here blog.

39 is not a prime number

...but it is how old I am today. It's just the final rung on that ladder leading to 40, which I will reach next year. We'll have plenty of time to dwell on 40 in 2009.





V and M tell me quite frequently that I'm not old - and they are right. I once read a saying on a Salada Tea bag that has stuck with me through the years which said that, "Age is a matter of mind. If you don't mind, then it doesn't matter." I really don't feel as old as I am and still certainly look younger than my age. Apparently I look older than 21 because I haven't been carded at a restaurant in quite some time. That's progress... I guess.

"Honey, it's not the years, it's the mileage." --Dr. Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark

Still though, I'm quite happy to be where I am now age-wise. I've got a lot of miles left!

{BTW, only six more months of shopping before Christmas!}

Your Birthdate: June 25

You excel at anything difficult or high tech. In other words, you're a total (brilliant) geek. It's difficult for you to find people worth spending time with. Which is probably why you'll take over the world with your evil robots! Your strength: Your unfailing logic. Your weakness: Loving machines more than people. Your power color: Tan. Your power symbol: Pi. Your power month: July.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

'nuff said

Guess what we're going to see on Saturday afternoon? Even if it sucks, it's gonna be great! Nineteen years is a long time between sequels...

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Happy 11th Birthday, V. I love you, sweetheart.
Happy Birthday tomorrow, Dad.

(Woo-Hoo!!) Spring Ahead!

Aaaaah, it's that time of year again, folks!

For the majority of the United States, it's time to change the clocks one hour AHEAD tonight so that you'll be properly attuned to Daylight Savings Time. All except for that totally weird state of Arizona, which has decided to perpetually be in Standard Time. Weeners.

It's a bummer that we'll all get one hour less sleep tonight. Anytime I lose sleep it's never a good thing. I'll take the trade off anytime, which is more than acceptable: More daylight hours in the evening as the days get longer and longer (Until summer solstice, anyway).

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Today V, M and I went shopping for K's birthday present, at Borders and CBD. While we were at CBD, we ran into three most unexpected people. Namely my 12 year old niece J and her Nanna E and Auntie L. Yeah, tell me about it. It wasn't actually that bad. J noticed me first and came over to say hi. Then she saw M then V, who were each coming out of the restroom. We talked for a few minutes. I thought it would be rude to go our own way without saying hello to the people J was with, so that's what we did. I actually had a pleasant conversation with J, E and L that lasted for about ten minutes or so. There's a bit o' lingering negative family history here and because of that hadn't spoken to (E and L) in years.

Happy 36^th Birthday, K.

What a weekend!

Not only has the weather been nice here in New England over the past week, but it's also been nice to be a Boston sports fan. But for the latter, not just for the last week.

On Saturday, Boston College routed Bowling Green University 55-24 to move up to #4 in both the AP poll and the USA Today/coaches poll. BC is 6-0 for the first time since 1942 and enjoy their highest national ranking ever. BC plays at 1-5 Notre Dame next Saturday.

The Patriots continued their winning ways, improving to 5-0 by beating the Cleveland Browns today 34-17 at Gillette Stadium, setting up a huge game next Sunday at Dallas with potential Super Bowl implications.

The Red Sox completed the three game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 9-1 win at Angels Stadium and will play the winner of the Indians/Yankees series in the AL Championship Series, starting on Friday at Fenway.

Oh wouldn't it be nice if the Yankees would lose tonight and be swept?

Though that didn't happen as the Yankees just won, 8-4.

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Also, I must wish my brother A a Happy 36^th Birthday today.

What does it mean?

.....Nothing. That's what.

What am I talking about?

Today is 07/07/07, of course.

What did you think I was talking about?

I'm not into reading into dates and all that Nostradamus, false prophecy crapola.

Today's date is an interesting coincidence, and nothing more than that. After all, it's just another day....

(Now I'm thinking of that Oingo Boingo song [lyrics below] from one of my favorite CD's)
{ok, ok, ok, I had the cassette tape long before CD's became popular... so sue me!}

and my only niece happens to turn 12 today. Happy Birthday, J!

Just Another Day

by Oingo Boingo
from "Dead Man's Party" (c) 1985 MCA Records

(There's life underground)

I feel it all around / I feel it in my bones
My life is on the line / When I'm away from home
When I step out the door / The jungle is alive
I do not trust my ears / I don't believe my eyes
I will not fall in love / I cannot risk the bet
Cause hearts are fragile toys / so easy to forget

It's just another day / There's murder in the air
It drags me when I walk / I smell it everywhere
It's just another day / Where people cling to light
To drive away the fear / That comes with every night

CHORUS
It's just another . . . . . . . It's just another day
It's just another . . . . . . . It's just another day . . .

It's just another day--When people wake from dreams
With voices in their ears--That will not go away

I had a dream last night / The world was set on fire
And everywhere I ran / There wasn't any water
The temperature increased / The sky was crimson red
The clouds turned into smoke / And everyone was dead
(but) There's a smile on my face . . . For everyone
There's a golden coin . . . That reflects the sun
There's a lonely place . . . That's always cold
There's a place in the stars . . . For when you get old

There's razors in my bed / That come out late at night
They always disappear / Before the morning light
I'm dreaming again / Of life underground
It doesn't ever move / It doesn't make a sound
And just when I think--That things are in their place
The heavens are secure--The whole thing explodes in my face

CHORUS

Anniversaries, Milestones and the Belmont Stakes

Today marks the beginning of year three of this here blog. You ought to go back in my archives and see what you missed. Go ahead, you can do it.... but you need to come back when you're done.

Sometime towards the beginning of May marked my 600th post. It was a milestone that went unnoticed until recently. I couldn't even tell you which post that was, but is realistic considering how often I post.

I don't think I've been this remarkably consistent with anything I've done in a very long time.

I write this blog primarily for myself, in case you haven't noticed. If you happen to enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it then that's a plus for me. As always, I'm honored to have you along for the ride, no matter where it takes me.

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Maybe some of you haven't noticed, but Sir Scribe-o-rama and I have a great new blog (linked over there in the sidebar) where we challenge each other to watch and review movies, which are then posted for your enjoyment. I bring this to your attention, not only becasue you're apparently not as observant as I'd hoped you'd be but, as with all bloggers - WE WANT COMMENTERS [besides Scribe and myself]!!! Oh, and btw, please don't neglect leaving comments on this blog.

So, please indulge yourselves in the fun, and make me happy. Over and out. Now back to our regularly scheduled programing.


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The last horse race in the Triple Crown series is today. There will be no Triple Crown winner again and this years Derby winner, Street Sense, isn't even running. I'll still watch the race and when it's done, so will my interest in horse racing be - until Derby weekend next year.

*** 139th Running of the Belmont Stakes ***

Belmont Park, Elmont, New York
Saturday, June 9
Distance: 1 1/2 Miles
Post Time: 6:25 p.m. (ET)
Purse: $1 million

Post Horse
1 Imawildandcrazyguy
2 Tiago
3 Curlin
4 C P West
5 Slew's Tizzy
6 Hard Spun
7 Rags to Riches

Rags to Riches carries 121 pounds; others carry 126 pounds.

19:00 update: And what a race it was!!! The day belonged to the lady (pictured above, courtesy of AP), who won by a nose over Curlin. Curlin, if you'll recall, defeated Street Sense (who won the Derby) by the same narrow margin in the Preakness.

Rags to Riches was the first filly to run the Belmont since Silverbulletday in 1999 (finishing 7th). She's the first filly to win it in 102 years, since Tanya in 1905. She is the third filly to win the race overall, joining Ruthless in 1867 - the very first Belmont Stakes race...

Here's espn.com's summary.

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Happy 24th birthday to my little sister C.

Double Digits, part II

The doctor made it back in by 01:00 and apologized for being held up with another delivery on the same floor. I nodded to the doc and shrugged, as if to say, "what can you do?" When doc again examined K, she was at 9 cm! No Cesarean section would be needed after all! The level of pitosin was increased again and I believe they introduced another medication into the IV bottle.

Then things began to heat up quickly. Within another hour and a half, labor pains increased significantly and came closer together. At the 02:30 examination, she was finally at 10 centimeters and the doctor could feel the crown. We were so close. The doc had me coaching K with her breathing while I was holding one of her legs and trying to encourage her to push, while another nurse held back her other leg. The doc was right there in the middle and for some reason I thought of Johnny Bench and salad spoons.

As the head came out there was a faint tearing sound and more bright streams of blood. Just a few more pushes. Just a few more minutes. Before I knew it, the doctor held up for all, especially K, to see a brand new person and the loud gasp for air that followed, as the baby let out its first cry. It was 03:10 and my eyes immediately focused on the baby's lower abdomen and immediately I knew. I announced in a loud voice, "K, we have a daughter! We have a daughter! V has finally come!"

K, tired as she was, looked at me with that look of utter tenderness and total satisfaction at her accomplishment, a look that I'll never forget. I leaned over and gave K a short kiss and told her that I loved her.

Meanwhile the superb doc and nursing staff were doing their jobs. The smiling doc reached out to me with what looked like giant hedge clippers. "Would daddy like to cut the cord?" Wordlessly I nodded and took the clippers and performed the ever important cut. Then the doc put the baby on K's belly and the mother/daughter bonding truly began.

When the doc had stopped the bleeding, she began to mend the tear. The nurse came over and took V to the supply cart. I went over to the cart with the nurses, who were cleaning up my daughter and congratulating the new dad. I grabbed the telephone in the room, dialed her parents house and handed K the phone so she could tell them that they were officially first time grandparents. Since it was the middle of the night, the call didn't last too long. I then called my parents to tell them the news. They were grandparents again. That call didn't last long either.

When V was ready, they wheeled her over to the nursery where official length and weight measurements were taken and ink was applied to the foot to record the official print. Officially V weighed seven pounds eleven ounces and was twenty one inches tall. (If only I was a gambling man!!)

K said that she was tired, obviously, and wanted to get some sleep. She told me that I should go home and get some sleep myself. I kissed K good night and told her that before I left, I was going to go to the nursery and hold V for a few more minutes.

We had decided earlier that I would come back to the hospital around 10ish, so we both could get a decent night's sleep.

On my way to the hospital later that morning, I stopped at the mall to get gifts for everyone. K got a plush bathrobe, I got myself an airbrushed t-shirt which had a picture of Fred Flintstone and Pebbles on the front along with the words, "Daddy's Little Girl" and on the back of the white shirt I had the artist write all of the pertinent info. V got some stuffed animal. I still have that shirt and to the best of my knowledge, K still wears that robe. Lord knows where that toy went.

I also stopped off at the gas station next to the hospital and bought every different kind of newspaper I could find for that day. Those papers are safely wrapped and in storage for the day when V will be old enough to appreciate them.

This happened ten years ago today. That's right, my oldest child is now officially a double digit girl. I still have a hard time dealing with this. Unbelievable.

H A P P Y
1 0 t h
B I R T H D A Y,
V ! ! !

Double Digits, part I

We went to her ob-gyn appointment on Wednesday the 14th as we were supposed to. The due date had arrived, except there was no sign of labor. None. Instead of being rushed to the hospital, as I had envisioned would be the case, we were able to take our time getting there. The doctor examined my wife and everything appeared normal.

"Okay," she said as the appointment was coming to an end. "Barring any sudden bouts of labor over the next seven days, I'll see you back here next week. Be here at 06:30."

We nodded our heads in acknowledgement as we walked out the door, thanking the doctor for all of the excellent care and advice that she had provided us over the last nine months.

As I helped K into the car, she leaned over to me and said, "I can't wait for this to be over."

Once I had sat down behind the wheel and fastened my seat belt, I reassured her that indeed it would be over in seven short days. Then the fun would begin for both of us.

Sure enough the next seven days were as uneventful as we'd feared they would be. We made sure to get to bed early on Tuesday evening because we knew the next day would be the most eventful day of our two and a half year old marriage.

After munching down a quick breakfast, we headed for the hospital. it was 06:00 and I was still trying to get the sleepers out of my eyes. The roads leading into downtown Nashua had not seen the bulk of the daily morning congestion that is a happy combination of commuter traffic and local residents heading out for various work destinations. It was a pleasant and otherwise uneventful ride and we arrived at the hospital in 18 minutes. Plenty of time to find a good spot in the hospital's adjacent parking garage.

After K had been successfully checked into her room, which would also double as the birthing suite, a nurse came in to take her vitals and that of the baby. Within 20 minutes the sac was broken and pitosin, thru an IV bag, was pumping through her veins. So far, so good - everything was normal. The baby's heartbeat was strong. The nurse gave each of us a chance to listen through the stethoscope and we could see the EKG readout on the monitor and on the printed pages being spit out below.

We were not sure how long the pre-labor stage would last, so we made sure to bring the essentials: plenty of reading material for each of us, a deck of cards and a cribbage board.

Around 08:00 the doctor came in to make sure K was comfortable and even asked how I was doing. She listened to the baby's heartbeat and checked the dilation of the cervix to see how much progress was being made. She reassured us that everything was fine, and estimated that by early afternoon we'd have a new addition to our family.

Long before now we had decided on a boy's name and a girl's name because we did not know, did not want to know, the baby's sex until it was born. Coming up with a suitable boys name was easy, since I had always wanted a junior and K had wanted to use her father's name, since he had no sons of his own. Compromise here was easy. I would not get my junior, but both her dad's name and my first name would be used. The only question was which would be used as the first name. The order we decided on, coincidentally happened to be the name of a restaurant in downtown Nashua.

Choosing a girls name proved to be a much more formidable task, because each of us liked different names and didn't like the other's suggestions. There were no commonalities. We bought a book of baby names, as most first time parents do, and went through every name at least twice, if not three times. Then it happened: when we put this particular combination of names together it clicked. We looked at each other with that knowing look - a sensation I'll never forget. The look that both of us knew made sense, as if that combination of names was already hers and we had just temporarily forgotten it.

For a first child, knowing the sex pre-birth is not really that important a piece of information. The most important thing we were concerned about was the health of the baby and did it have the proper amount of limbs, fingers and toes. The baby's room was done in neutral greens, so that boy or girl, we'd be prepared.

As the day progressed onward, there was little or no change and contractions were few and far between. I can't even tell you how many laps around the maternity floor we made that day, with the intent of helping the labor process along. We probably walked over two miles, slowly pushing the mobile IV stand along as we went. In between laps we played different card games and made good use of the cribbage board. Between the two of us, we read most of the magazines lying around and I read at least one of the books I had brought in its entirety.

Meals were brought in for both of us, ordered from a limited cafeteria menu. K even got to take a nap as I flipped through the television channels. As the morning became afternoon and the afternoon became evening there was little progress to report after each examination. Steadily throughout the day the nurses increased the level of pitosin flowing through the IV hoping to speed up the process.

Around 22:30 the doctor herself came in and checked K out. All of the necessary vital signs were normal but she was only between 7 and 8 centimeters. Labor pains were there but not as frequent as you like near the end of the pregnancy. She still had more than two cm to go. The doctor made the announcement that if no significant progress was made by midnight, then K would need to have a Cesarean section. I could see the color drain from her face, what color there was left, anyway. She had so badly wanted to deliver her first baby vaginally. At some point during the proceedings, the anesthesiologist came in to administer the much sought after epidural. When it began to take effect, any discomfort K was feeling was gone.

To be continued...