So it came to pass that Joe's desperate search drew to a close. A motorcycle was placed on the market that bore out Joe's every desire. And the clan held its breath as the days passed before Joe could at last meet his potential purchase. On Tuesday night, rejoicing could be heard up and down the streets of the village as he tenderly wheeled his new moneypit into the garage.
Hooray, Motorcycle!
Yep, you heard right. Joe bought the motorcycle of his dreams - well, a compromise of dreams and dinero. Its a 1979 Honda Goldwing. He has always wanted a Goldwing. This one needs a tuneup and a little buffing, but it will give him an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of his new chopper. The most impressive thing? It was within budget! Hooray, budget! So now Joe's little 'coin tin of dreams' becomes not a motorcycle fund, but a motorcyle fixer-upper fund. Anyone got twenty bucks?
The fog lights go schmere.
And the back-thingy like so.
Vroom vroom vroom.
So that the grandparents may get their fix:
Sydney likes bathtime.
Tric and Syd examine each other.
September 23, 2005
Well folks, I have some bad news to report. It seems that Non-Dairy Doesn't Have to be Crappy. I only received a couple of emails. Just to recap, I was trying to get everyone to send their favorite recipes containing no dairy so that Jenn Bell and I could once again feel our taste-buds. I was going to post them on the above page. I heard from Sharon and Daymented, and that is it (although I have to say that between the two of them they had a TON of great recipes). I'll give it one more try. Please EMAIL me the good foodstuff!
The business trip was beautiful. We went to Fallen Leaf Lake, near Lake Tahoe. We stayed at the Stanford Sierra camp, which is set up like, well, a camp. There was a main building where sessions were held, and meals were in the mess hall (although the food was superior to your typical camp mess food). They had boats, beautiful trails and HUGE trees. Unfortunately Sydney kept me pretty busy, so I didn't get to go out on the lake. She didn't care much for the camping experience, and we're still trying to get her back to some semblance of a sleeping schedule. She spent the entire week crying her dang head off, and refusing again to sleep. Linda C. was a champ, although she came back to California with bronchitis. She's supposed to head to Australia on Monday, so we're hoping she feels better. I did get a picture of what I think is a coyote on our way out of camp on Thursday.
Fallen Leaf Lake.
Cool log bench.
Our cabin from the outside (2nd floor), left.
My and Sydney's room.
Could be a dog, but I think not.
Pinecone in the lake. I just thought it was pretty.
Half the signs on the way back were covered?!
Sydney is right at the point where she is too big for her 0-3 month clothes, and too small for the next size up. We decided to box up her 0-3 months stuff, and pull out the bigger stuff. When we got back from Tahoe, Linda C. took me on a little-person shopping spree. We got a little out of hand. It was fun though. =)
Clothes still a liiiiitle big.
Linda C. prepping clothes for the wash.
Sydney plays on her play mat.
What is she thinking about, you think?
Sydney pulls on her toy. She tries to sit up now.
Daddy hands Sydney the keys.
Linda C. and Sydney.
Sydney likes chewing on stuff.
Like tigers.
Dad teaches Sydney the finer points of football.
We're trying to get away from all PJs, all the time.
Ah, blessed minutes of bliss.
Joe pulled out his video camera while his mom was here, and discovered a never before viewed tape in there. It was from a trip to Antarctica. He narrated for us.
And here you can see lots of ice.
And here, the local residents.
Th-th-th-that's it folks!
September 09, 2005
I'm trying to update this more often. I mentioned last time that I was trying not to make this a baby photo site. I was later told I don't have enough baby photos out there, so.... you get more today. =)
Jody's Juneau service was on Tuesday. I hear it was touching and well-attended. I'm very grateful to the University for all they did to recognize Jody's importance to her fellow students and co-workers. The next service is in Aberdeen Washington next week, and will be a more private affair. If you didn't get a chance to visit already, Jody's memorial website is:
Sydney had her 2 month physical yesterday. The nurse measured her... 23 inches... good, good. Then she put her on the scale, and was like, "No baby, you've got to weight more than that. Let's try that again. Make sure the scale zeros out this time Dad. Oh. Same thing. Okay, well that's fine." Joe and I just looked at each other with that "Oh boy " expression. When she was first born she lost so much weight in the beginning that they were considering supplementing her. Anyway, turns out 10 lb, 7 oz (her current weight) puts her at the 25th percentile for weight at her age, while 23 inches puts her in the 50th to 75th percentile for height. I forget how big her head is, but... who cares - it was small (25th %) but normal. The results: She's not that big, but she is healthy, and as the doctors put it, "precocious". She can already roll over, clasp her hands and objects, kicks her feet like she's Lance Armstrong, babbles like Roseanne, and holds her head up like a champ. Apparently these are all benchmarks that should be occuring around 4 months. So I'm bragging, "My baby does more than just drool!" She got her first shots yesterday too. I was such a wus, I couldn't watch, and I didn't even hold her hand. I felt like a horrible mother. She screamed, and felt pretty crappy the rest of the night (although she slept well for a change).
Three shots, a blue bandaid for each.
Poor baby.
Three more Sydney photos, then onto other things.
Asleep on Momma's lap. Be still my heart.
New favorite photo. How long can I keep saying
that?
Ever since we arrived in Sacramento Joe has been trying to sell me on his buying a motorcycle. I hemmed and hawed, you know, "What if you wreck," "Where will our soon-to-arrive baby sit " and "Do you REALLY need another EXPENSIVE hobby Joe?!" I finally conceeded that if he threw his extra change in a can and saved up the money for a motorcycle, I wouldn't fight him on it. Well, it seems that day may have come. (Get this - he's citing rising prices at the pump for the reason he needs to get one now. Amateur. I recite increased insurance premiums). He has found a few he likes, most of which are about triple the savings he currently has. I've held his feet to the fire on that, saying he could only fudge by a couple of hundred. Well, yesterday he found one 90 minutes from here that is exactly what he's looking for (and only a one hundred extra). I think he might go look at it tomorrow. I'll let you know how that goes.
Back on the baby subject, but not really. We figured out a couple of weeks ago that Sydney is allergic to milk - not lactose intolerant, but she has a problem with one of the proteins in dairy. Its actually fairly common, and its not permanent - she'll grow out of it. Basically, I eat dairy and pass it along to her, and she huffs and puffs and screams and grunts and keeps us up all day and night. So I had to cut all things dairy out of my diet. While it has been great for shedding the baby pounds it has been horrible for my disposition. Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE my dairy. I love cheese, milk, cream, ice-cream... I live for dairy. So this has been a major shake-up for our house-hold. I've been drinking soy, and trying to cook with it. Today I talked with Jenn Bell, and it sounds like her little angel may be allergic to dairy AND soy (30% of infants with the dairy problem also have a soy problem). Jenn is at her witts end and asked me what the heck do I eat. I told her lots of chicken and rice. Then I decided I shouldn't resign myself to eating crap for the next six or whatever months, and that I would enlist your help in finding new, tasty, non-dairy meals for my family and for Jenn's. SEND US YOUR FAVORITE NON-DAIRY RECIPES!!! I created a "Non-Dairy Doesn't Have to be Crappy" recipe page, and will post your submissions on them. Please do your part and save us!
Sloppy Joe eats a sloppy joe.
Next week (Monday) I go north for a convention for work. I was going to leave Sydney here with Joe and his mom, but the whole 'thing' wasn't working out. So Sydney and Linda C. are both going with me! We're going to this place/hotel/camp in the middle of nowhere, where they have rules like "Don't leave food in your room or car, because the bears will come to find it". Um, am I going home (read this funny report on bear-burglars in Juneau)? Anyway, it sounds beautiful. They also have boats and stuff available for guests to take out. I'm very excited. I'll take lots of photos for you.
And I think that's it folks. I'll see you at the next edition of "Our Crazy Life".
