So Much Fun

Every time my kids get sick they each do their own distinctive thing.  Lucas tends to sleep a lot and just be a little lump until he feels better.  Amelia becomes very clingy and doesn't want to be put down.  Both of them can be very exhausting for us as we end up spending a lot of time with them, day and night.  Then one day they will just get up and start playing like nothing happened.  Amelia has been sick the past few days but yesterday she decided she felt better and was running around, laughing, and dancing again.  She's so fun to watch.

When the kids were born I couldn't wait for the day when I would come home from work and they would scream "daddy!" and come running to greet me.  That day has finally come.  When I come home from work, I can hear them upstairs calling "daddy, daddy!" and when I get to the top of the stairs, they are there just standing there waiting for me.  Then they either give me a big hug or they run off expecting me to chase them and start playing.  Oh, they are so much fun.

Finally

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world," he said. "Duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship."

If this kind of thing keeps up, I think this new president might help people like americans.

Hey, I have a question. How come Obama is always described as the first black president? I thought he was only half-black. So the white people can take comfort in knowing he's still half-white and the black people can rejoice in that his half-blackness? I think if I was his white parent I'd be a little offended that I wasn't being acknowledged.

Good News Guys

I was told not to tell this to anyone.  I'm sorry, if I kept it a secret I would be betraying my fellow man.  

Pre-eclampsia:

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine.  The only known treatments for eclampsia or advancing pre-eclampsia are abortion or delivery, either by induction or Caesarean section.  Many studies have also suggested the importance of a woman's immunological tolerance to her baby's father, whose genes are present in the young fetus and its placenta and which may pose a challenge to her immune system.  Researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of a woman's continued exposure to her partner's semen as early as several years before conception. 

Okay, everything make sense so far?  Read on...

Having already noted the importance of a woman's immunological tolerance to her baby's paternal genes, several Dutch reproductive biologists decided to take their research a step further. Consistent with the fact that human immune systems tolerate things better when they enter the body via the mouth, the Dutch researchers conducted a series of studies that confirmed a surprisingly strong correlation between a diminished incidence of pre-eclampsia and a woman's practice of oral sex, and noted that the protective effects were strongest if she swallowed her partner's semen.

Okay guys, there is now scientific research to back up your claim that "it's good for you."  If you want references to text above, let me know and I'll tell you go do your own damn research if you don't believe me.

Public Service Announcement

Last Friday Celia and I had a babysitter so we went out for our friend's birthday.  First of all, finding street parking in Yaletown at 9pm on a Friday night is a nightmare.  Don't even bother trying.  We drove in circles for 45 minutes just to park.  Then again, we ended up with a pretty decent spot close to our party.  Anyway, you know when you're drinking and you start to get a little tired because you're not drinking enough to give you that drunken superman energy but you've had just enough to drink to make you a little sleepy?  Well for me that's one or two drinks.  If that's all I have, I need to go to bed soon.  Anything more and I'm up partying till the wee hours of the morning.  Or throwing up, one or the other.  Anyway, to overcome the whole sleepy thing, the secret is this: Red Bull and Vodka.  You can even go heavy on the Vodka.  With just a couple of these, you have the energy to survive the party and you're not hammered.  Anyway, that's my advice to you all.  I'm not advertising for Red Bull or anything because if I was then I would be getting paid and I'm not so consider this a PSA.  Drink Red Bull and Vodka. 

Growing Up

Next month the twins are going to daycare.  With Celia going back to school and with no nanny available, we needed some form of childcare on a daily basis.  Daycare isn't so bad, there are other kids about their age and there's structure to their day.  Exactly the kind of thing I want.  Today I was talking to someone about it and then I said it out loud: "They'll be in daycare monday to friday for about 8 or 9 hours a day."  Holy crap, that's a lot of time to be spending with strangers.  I mean, I do it every day at work but for a two year old that's a lot of non-family time.  Someday they'll be in school and it'll be similar situation.  Then someday they'll be old enough to be out on their own and then they'll be out all night and then they'll move out and then I'll hardly ever see them.  Now I don't want them to grow up.

Day 2 Vancouver Blizzard December 2008

Chilled Vancouver commuters faced their second day of winter hell today, as an additional centimetre of the peculiar white stuff fell, bringing the lower mainland to its knees and causing millions of dollars worth of damage to the marijuana crops. Scientists suspect that the substance is some form of frozen water particles and experts from Saskatchewan are being flown in. With temperatures dipping to the almost but not quite near zero mark, Vancouverites were warned to double insulate their lattes before venturing out.

Vancouver police recommended that people stay inside except for emergencies, such as running out of espresso or biscotti to see them through Vancouver's most terrible storm to date. The local Canadian Tire reported that they had completely sold out of fur-lined sandals.

Drivers were cautioned to put their convertible tops up, and several have been shocked to learn that their SUV's actually have four wheel drive, although most have no idea how to use it.

Weary commuters faced soggy sushi, and the threat of frozen breast implants. Although Dr. John Blatherwick, of the Coastal Health Authority reassured everyone that most breast implants were perfectly safe to 25 below, down-filled bras are flying off the shelves at Mountain Equipment Co-op.

"The government has to do something," snarled an angry Trevor Warburton. "I didn't pay $540,000 for my one bedroom condo so I could sit around and be treated like someone from Saskatchewan."

2009 Resolutions

Every January I have resolutions for the new year (except for last year, I must have forgotten) and this year I've decided to go big.  Here they are:

1. Lose 15 lbs
   
2. Stop buying lunch at work
   
3. Be more responsible with money
   
4. Quit smoking 100% (I'm at 95% right now.  If you don't know, that just means I'm doing pretty damn good right now)
   
5. Paint my house
   
6. Finish any and all renovations
   
7. Clean the garage so we can have both vehicles in there
   
8. Exercise at least 3 days/week (see #1)
   

There we go.  I think the toughest one is actually #7.  Anyway, happy new year to everyone and best wishes for you and your loved ones.