I'd Like Mine Styled As The Islands Of Hawaii, Please

mom hair omg
Originally uploaded by jelene

Have a glorious Mother's Day, whatever your do.

A Cure For Mysophobia: Procreation

IMG_7059
Originally uploaded by eyeliam

Mike Arrington and Jason Calacanis, I've always thought both of you would make terrific dads so here's another reason to keep forging ahead: your fear of germs will rapidly be reduced to mere background noise. Spend some time mopping half-chewed pizza off a filthy restaurant floor, jubilant the whole time your kid hocked it out instead of turning blue... Live the Carrie-like aftermath of your pediatrician's directive to "induce diarrhea..."

I'd go on but don't want to spoil too many dinners. Suffice to say powerful hand sanitizer comes in discreet enough sizes to be ever close by, and your immune system can hande way more than you thought possible. Plus, pandemics aside, social touching is good. It connects people and reminds them there's life beyond and behind our (albeit medieval) Qwerty keyboards.  XXXOOO  ;)

Plane And (Not So) Simple

What does the North Pole look like?  ...I did know once, only I've sort of forgotten.

Maybe this and other additions to the grounds adjacent to the Llama Cottage will help point the way.  I spent cumulative weeks in a refrigerator box loaded up with junk yard switches, mystery dials, and old alarm clock faces serving as altimeters; like most things I recall from childhood, the modern day version promises to include a few upgrades.  Courtesy of my dad, a.k.a., the Orville Wright of play structures.

Media Sophistication

Gromit Does HMV
Originally uploaded by tobybarnes

Parent (making bed as child watches Shaun the Sheep at the other end of the room):  Is that Gromit there in the barnyard?

Child:  No.  But I think it's the same actor.

Reality Check

thoughtful
Originally uploaded by
The Spohrs Are
Multiplying...

I was having a mellow Sunday, finishing the American Lawyer column I started in February on work life balance in a dismal economy (the writing-for-print lead times continue to boggle me), thinking about things like how grateful I am for the person who came up with adjustable waist kids' pants...

...when I stumbled across the story of Madeline Alice Spohr, daughter of Heather and Mike Spohr.  She died last month, after a difficult gestation, premature birth, and giving her family 17 months of joy. The family has been raising money for the March of Dimes in Maddie's name for some time; they ask that we continue to help them do so.  The desolation of losing a child...my head cannot begin to wrap itself around it. My deepest sadness and condolences to their family.