Thanksgiving Message

Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays over the last several years. I think part of it is that I've become less focused on getting presents--although I'm still a big fan--and more appreciative of good company. I think Margrethe's family has played a big part in that. I am really the only cook in my family, so Thanksgiving was never a big deal when I was growing up. On the other hand, Margrethe's family is full of cooks, so Thanksgiving becomes quite a production.

This year I am making an apple pie, and I always do the mashed potatoes. I may sneak an extra or two in. Rugelach?

All Night Long

Julia slept through the night yesterday, and not just in the baby book definition, which is five hours straight. She went to sleep at 8:00 pm or so and didn't wake up until 6:30 this morning. We are naturally dismissive of this development, since Dora didn't do this until she was nine months old. Still, we are crossing our fingers.

Christmas Wish List

Ok, so I'm not expecting a lot of presents for Christmas this year. I guess it's part of growing older, but somehow I can't help feel like yet another privilege of youth is slipping away. Sleeping in late, lots of free time, not having to wipe anyone's butt other than my own, etc. It's all gone.

However, in the spirit of days gone by, here are some preliminary wishlist items.

12" Nonstick Skillet (Faberware is supposed to be good for not too much money)
Wireless media server thingy (for playing music on the stereo from the computer)
Tony Bourdain's new cookbook
Thomas Keller's new cookbook

I'm sure more will occur to me.

Hi! 

Software Update

What I'm loving now (tip o' th' hat to the Rosengarten Report):

Firefox 1.0
Everquest 2
NOLF2 (Played through a second time, almost as good as the first.)

Recent News

I've started a new project at work that is really big and complex, so I've had trouble finding time to post lately. I'll try to do better.

Julia is developing new talents every day. She is making a variety of squealing noises now, and really enjoys when we imitate her. She has taken to sucking on her fingers, much more than Dora ever did. I think she may give up the binky soon. We are still anticipating her becoming a difficult sleeper, but so far she's been a very easy baby.

Dora is learning her letters and numbers. She can identify pretty much every letter now and all the numbers from 1-10, although not always reliably. She can spell her name and a few other words, but she can't recognize them unless coached.

We're all really looking forward to Christmas! We're going to see Mickey Mouse and Cinderella.

I must obey my master

I was walking down Wabash with my lunch in hand when I pass by a man in front of an ATM. He was standing very close to the screen with a blank stare. As I take all this in I notice that the screen, rather than displaying his balance and whatnot, is covered in strange characters. Moreover, this wasn't a modern color screen but an old green-screen terminal. It appeared that he was receiving instructions from it.

I think I may have seen a glitch in the Matrix.

Look Who's Talking

Both Dora and Julia are talking more lately, each in their own way. Julia is making a nice assortment of coos and other funny noises. She gets very excited when someone talks to her and makes kissing sounds.

Dora is learning grammar, and it's very interesting to hear the mistakes she makes. Most of them are very logical, when you think about it. For example, yesterday she wanted to read a story about "cleanupping." She also only uses subject pronouns (except for "me"), so she says things like "let's give the doll to she." Sometimes she puts the preposition in the wrong place, preferring the German construction where it comes at the end of the phrase.

Four more years

I've been reflecting on how much our lives have changed since President Bush was elected (so to speak) the first time. Four years ago, Dora was only in the planning stages, we lived in an apartment in Maryland, and we had just started with Gallup.

Today, Dora is three and Julia is three and a half months, we own a house in Oak Park, and we both work for NORC. Life is more hectic now, and we don't have as much money to spend--at least not on ourselves--but I am much happier overall.

It's hard to imagine now, but in four more years, Dora will be seven and starting the second grade, Julia will be just over four (older than Dora is now!), and I will be 40. ACK!