Random Traffic Through Nick's Brain

The things that you’d know if you thought about them, but never think about them ’til you have to.

Since babies grow so fast, buying clothes is difficult, especially in a climate with summers and winters. We got flannel 12-month clothes as gifts. Alex will probably never be able to use them.

We got a web cam as a gift for Christmas. If you want to be able to see video of Alex, comment or email me and I’ll tell you what you need to do to get yourself set up (it’s pretty simple… I just don’t want to post all the details publicly).

• Alex is starting to get things. He understands when we’re dressing or undressing him, and actively (in his own limited way) helps us get his arms through his clothing.
• Bad day: Alex peed on one of my Christmas gifts. Worse day: I was wearing it at the time.
• Just now, he made his way over to where I’m typing this entry on my laptop and started mashing enough keys to open the history pane and a new browser tab.
• He’s learned that mommy and daddy are different. He’ll gnaw on Dina’s chin / cheek, but not on mine, because I’m usually stubbly, which he doesn’t like.

So far:

• Been called a “Nazi parent” for trying to get Alex to take a nap / have enough sleep not to be cranky.
• Have get / accept / choose gifts because the giver likes them better than I do. I understand that gifts are both about the giving and the receiving.

Problem is, things like this have been getting to me. I need to develop a thicker skin.

At least I figured out a few things about social dynamics.

• “And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff.” Only today as I finished applying the sealing wax to Dina’s present did I finally stop wondering why Jackie Paper was bringing Puff ceiling wax.
• Alex’s nickname: Kick-kick. Hold him up in the air by his armpits if it isn’t obvious.
• Alex’s nickname: Snerk. He’s been congested.
• Alex’s nickname: Superman / Superboy. a) His bib looks like a cape when it gets turned around. b) He used to hold his arms over his head when stretching / waking up.

One normally writes something like “one hundred twenty—-18/100″ on a cheque. Is “one hundred twenty——-9/50″ acceptable?

Progress: Alex is scooting feet at a time on his stomach to get toys that he’s interested.

Good news: His fine motor skills are developing. Bad news: He’s using his new found talents to yank at my earrings.

We have some $100 off Sony Style Vaio coupons. Actual paper. Valid until January 31^st only at Sony Style Stores. If you want one, give us a shout.

• Looks like a tooth has poked through on top.
• He moves around now. Not crawling, but if I’m not careful he’s playing with the XMas tree.
• Biggest. Poop. Explosion. Ever. The phenomenon included:
  • 1 onesie.
  • 1 pair of pants.
  • 1 Roots hoodie.
  • 8 wipes.
  • 2 Kleenex.
  • 1 diaper.
  • 1 change pad cover.
  • 1 Ziplock to hold all the disposables before putting them in the diaper disposal system.
  • 12 sprays of Shout.

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class="alignright"
style="margin: 0 0 2px 7px; display: inline; border: 2px solid black; float: right; width : 150px; height : 99px;"
alt="Photograph: St. Catherine's, Mount Sinai, 2005-10-06, © Nick Varacalli."
title="St. Catherine's, Mount Sinai, 2005-10-06, © Nick Varacalli." />This may be a long and boring one.

Since I tend to set goals from birthday to birthday (not by calendar year), I’m long overdue for reviewing last year’s goal progress, and setting goals for this year. Part of the procrastination is that I don’t feel like introspecting for hours on end to determine how I did and what I want to do this year.

Review

My goals last year were to:

• Be healthy.
• Be thoughtful.
• Be self-confident & self-content.

Be healthy.

Not bad. I got into exercise, but that waned once Alex came around. I did some weights at the gym, and I got a lot of running in. I ran a 5K and a 5M run. I did a 14M run on my own. I started doing yoga at the gym, which I really liked. I’m eating healthier, both in what I eat, when I eat, and how I eat. My allergies are under control. I deal better with the outdoors. I didn’t unicycle, bike, or juggle much. We canoed on the Charles once. At one point I was able to touch my toes, but no longer. I didn’t even get close to my weight goal… in fact, I’m currently 20 pounds above it.

Be thoughtful.

Getting better, but still needs a lot of work. But… but… but… I have to be careful not to over-analyse.

Be self-confident & self-content.

Also getting better… but still needs work. I want to be somewhat more zen about it.

Other

Other little things I wanted to do:

• Financial Goals: We did OK at being good savers.
• Technical / Career Goals: Didn’t really learn any new technologies or read any techie or management books.
• Go Swimming: Eh… didn’t work out.
• Photography: I didn’t focus on this much, either taking pictures, displaying pictures, or manipulating pictures.
• Poker: This hobby fell by the wayside too.
• Minor Tasks: Got a bunch of tasks done such as staining our bookshelf, buying some pocketbook bookshelves, etc.
• Opportunistic Goals: A bunch of goals that I considered but decided against putting effort into. If they happened, they happened. If they didn’t, they didn’t. The only goal I achieved in this category was a cousin for my nephew.

This Year

I think last year’s goals still fit this year… the only additional goal I’d consider is:

• Be happy.

Alex is a big help with that, but sometimes I think the lack of sleep masks how happy I am. Plus, let’s face it… I tend to be Eyore-ish anyway. I’m not sure that’s something I want to change.

• Thanksgiving in Boston: 11 adults. 1 kid. OK, 1 & 7/8^ths if you want to be picky.
• Thanksgiving in Montreal: 8 adults. 5 kids.

• Dozer has a proper horn. A deep, loud, commanding sound. honnnk. Lightning’s horn was wimpy and shrill. meep.
• Lightning’s turning radius was (much) smaller than Dozer’s.
• Dozer has a lot of nice bells and whistles. Little, user interface-type features that make using the car a lot easier.

Dozer still rocks.

Got bored and did some quizzes. Why? Dunno. Maybe I want to be a nerd from MA? Mind you, I’ve been in MA for 6½ years now, and I’ve revelled in being a nerd for probably two or three times that long.

src="http://www.nerdtests.com/images/ft/nq.php?val=4789" alt="I am
nerdier than 96% of all people. Are you nerdier? Click here to find
out!">