Lois Lane: Can you read my mind? Can you picture the things I'm thinking of?
Superman: Right now you’re thinking of a particularly amusing lolcat.
Lois Lane: So you can read my mind!
Superman: Well, yes, but also you just posted it to Facebook.
Lois Lane: Oh. But can you see through my clothes?
Superman: Ummm…no. That planter must be made of lead.
Lois Lane: Ha!
Superman: But I saw you tagged in some pictures from Cabo last year and can pretty much imagine the rest.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Pitchfork Recap
The critter went to his first concert on Sunday. Well, that would be his first post-natal concert since many concerts were part of our pre-natal flurry of activity. But baby's first concert will be recorded as day 3 of the Pitchfork festival.
I had been excited about the prospect when we got the tickets. Then I got even more excited when they started announcing the Sunday bands, which included The Thermals, The Walkmen, and The Flaming Lips. However, as the date approached I became nervous about the logistics of the day. Because of the critter and all his gear it would be best to drive, but would we ever find a parking space? The Flaming Lips didn't go on until 8:40 PM by which time the critter is usually in bed. How would that impact his sleep cycle? We wanted to arrive by The Thermals at 4:15, making for a long day. Would the critter be fussy? Would there be a massive poopy diaper to have to clean up on a blanket in a field? How would the critter tolerate having his ear protection on all day?
Luckily, it all turned out okay.
The critter was calm. He napped a little when we wandered around after The Walkmen. He fell asleep for good during The Flaming Lips and barely stirred on the move to the car, a diaper change, putting on his sleep sack, or putting him in his crib. And he slept through the night.
As far as enjoying the concert, which is why we were there, it was a good time. Because of the critter we stayed a bit further back than we normally would, but that was okay. The sound wasn't great (and you could hear music from the B stage when listening to someone on A or C). Still, it was nice to be outside listening to music. We drank some beer and had some great curry.
We left about an hour into The Flaming Lips' set. The critter was fine, but mom and dad were getting tired. (It was a school night!) Plus, we knew it would be easier to get the stroller out if we left before the crowd. We moved to the perimeter of the crowd, but decided to stay to see what the next song would be. This turned out to be a great decision. The song was "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," which has special meaning for us. A piano and standing bass played it for my processional at our wedding. :-)
I had been excited about the prospect when we got the tickets. Then I got even more excited when they started announcing the Sunday bands, which included The Thermals, The Walkmen, and The Flaming Lips. However, as the date approached I became nervous about the logistics of the day. Because of the critter and all his gear it would be best to drive, but would we ever find a parking space? The Flaming Lips didn't go on until 8:40 PM by which time the critter is usually in bed. How would that impact his sleep cycle? We wanted to arrive by The Thermals at 4:15, making for a long day. Would the critter be fussy? Would there be a massive poopy diaper to have to clean up on a blanket in a field? How would the critter tolerate having his ear protection on all day?
Luckily, it all turned out okay.
The critter was calm. He napped a little when we wandered around after The Walkmen. He fell asleep for good during The Flaming Lips and barely stirred on the move to the car, a diaper change, putting on his sleep sack, or putting him in his crib. And he slept through the night.
As far as enjoying the concert, which is why we were there, it was a good time. Because of the critter we stayed a bit further back than we normally would, but that was okay. The sound wasn't great (and you could hear music from the B stage when listening to someone on A or C). Still, it was nice to be outside listening to music. We drank some beer and had some great curry.
We left about an hour into The Flaming Lips' set. The critter was fine, but mom and dad were getting tired. (It was a school night!) Plus, we knew it would be easier to get the stroller out if we left before the crowd. We moved to the perimeter of the crowd, but decided to stay to see what the next song would be. This turned out to be a great decision. The song was "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots," which has special meaning for us. A piano and standing bass played it for my processional at our wedding. :-)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Waking Hours
The critter woke up last night. For weeks he's been sleeping through the night or pretty close to it, but last night was not like that.
He woke up around 2:30 a.m. His diaper was very wet and had leaked. I changed him. He was very awake, so I fed him. I had forgotten how peaceful it was to feed him at night in the rocking chair. I haven't done that since going back to work. Once he was drowsy, I set him down in the crib and went back to bed.
He woke again around 4:30 a.m. This time I let hubby get up. He fed the critter a bottle then brought him back to our bed.
About an hour later as hubby and I were getting up and ready for work the critter was still asleep. I watched him before I got up. He was peaceful. But as I was getting ready, he seemed to be having a very sad baby dream. He was still asleep, but he was wimpering and sniffling. It was sort of cute but also quite pitiful. When he woke up he cried loudly. Different cries sound different. This was a very sad cry. This was a very sad critter.
I fed him in the big chair. That calmed him. That's one of my favorite things about breastfeeding: the power to calm the critter when he is distressed. I'll be needing the power again tonight. It's his 4 month well-baby visit, and there are going to be a lot of shots.
Oh, I'm sure the doctor will ask if the critter is sleeping through the night. I'll have to say "Well..."
He woke up around 2:30 a.m. His diaper was very wet and had leaked. I changed him. He was very awake, so I fed him. I had forgotten how peaceful it was to feed him at night in the rocking chair. I haven't done that since going back to work. Once he was drowsy, I set him down in the crib and went back to bed.
He woke again around 4:30 a.m. This time I let hubby get up. He fed the critter a bottle then brought him back to our bed.
About an hour later as hubby and I were getting up and ready for work the critter was still asleep. I watched him before I got up. He was peaceful. But as I was getting ready, he seemed to be having a very sad baby dream. He was still asleep, but he was wimpering and sniffling. It was sort of cute but also quite pitiful. When he woke up he cried loudly. Different cries sound different. This was a very sad cry. This was a very sad critter.
I fed him in the big chair. That calmed him. That's one of my favorite things about breastfeeding: the power to calm the critter when he is distressed. I'll be needing the power again tonight. It's his 4 month well-baby visit, and there are going to be a lot of shots.
Oh, I'm sure the doctor will ask if the critter is sleeping through the night. I'll have to say "Well..."
Monday, July 13, 2009
A morning out of sorts
Our ritual this morning was different, and I'm still not feeling quite right.
It's the daycare lady's vacation, so Granny Z is in for critter duty. This changed what needed to be done in the morning and by whom, which (particularly before having a significant amount of coffee) was enough to seriously throw me off my game.
Theoretically, the morning was a lot easier. For one, I didn't have to carry so much stuff to the car. I also didn't have to eat breakfast while breastfeeding, and I could leave for work a little later since I didn't have to stop at daycare.
On the other hand, it took a lot of thinking to figure out whether I had everything I needed since I had so little to actually take with me. I also ran around like a crazy person reminding my mom where everything was from hats for the critter to lunches for her. I spent all morning not quite knowing what I needed to do. Hopefully, I'll get more relaxed as the week goes on. (Just in time to return to the old ritual on Monday!)
It didn't help that the critter was particularly cute and snuggly this morning. It's hard to leave him regardless of who is taking care of him.
It's the daycare lady's vacation, so Granny Z is in for critter duty. This changed what needed to be done in the morning and by whom, which (particularly before having a significant amount of coffee) was enough to seriously throw me off my game.
Theoretically, the morning was a lot easier. For one, I didn't have to carry so much stuff to the car. I also didn't have to eat breakfast while breastfeeding, and I could leave for work a little later since I didn't have to stop at daycare.
On the other hand, it took a lot of thinking to figure out whether I had everything I needed since I had so little to actually take with me. I also ran around like a crazy person reminding my mom where everything was from hats for the critter to lunches for her. I spent all morning not quite knowing what I needed to do. Hopefully, I'll get more relaxed as the week goes on. (Just in time to return to the old ritual on Monday!)
It didn't help that the critter was particularly cute and snuggly this morning. It's hard to leave him regardless of who is taking care of him.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Dead links
I actually have a few notes on a potential play dealing with how web accounts live on after a person dies, but I've just had my first personal brush with the phenomenon.
I found out that one of my professional contacts on LinkedIn passed away several weeks ago. Naturally, his LinkedIn profile does not indicate this, even in the "What are you working on now?" box. I doubt his family will worry about about removing his profile, even if they know it is out there. As a result, my professional network is likely to include a dead man for quite a while.
I found out that one of my professional contacts on LinkedIn passed away several weeks ago. Naturally, his LinkedIn profile does not indicate this, even in the "What are you working on now?" box. I doubt his family will worry about about removing his profile, even if they know it is out there. As a result, my professional network is likely to include a dead man for quite a while.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Unless Kim Deal is standing behind me, there is no "Kim D" here
I knew it would happen someday. Today I was called "Kim D" for the first time.
At the Bikram studio, when there are multiple people with the same name, they refer to people by their first name and last initial. I don't know if it's because she's new or if it's because I'm not normally at the Friday morning class, but this was the first time I've practiced with another Kim. So I was "Kim D."
I have been "Kim Z" for so long the combination feels like my first name. To closer friends I have been "Kimmy Z" as well. (Never just "Kimmy." Never. Ever.) Even since I've gotten married I am still Kim Z to a lot of people. It is my attachment to my zed that inspired me to use it as my middle initial when I changed my name. I remain Kim Z.
But at the Bikram studio they've only known me since I've been married. They naively think of my initial as being the first letter of my last name. They don't know how foreign that sounds to me.
I'm sure I'll have to be Kim D again sometime. Probably at the yoga studio but in other places as well. Perhaps I'll get used to it, but it won't change the fact that I am now, and always will be, Kim Z.
At the Bikram studio, when there are multiple people with the same name, they refer to people by their first name and last initial. I don't know if it's because she's new or if it's because I'm not normally at the Friday morning class, but this was the first time I've practiced with another Kim. So I was "Kim D."
I have been "Kim Z" for so long the combination feels like my first name. To closer friends I have been "Kimmy Z" as well. (Never just "Kimmy." Never. Ever.) Even since I've gotten married I am still Kim Z to a lot of people. It is my attachment to my zed that inspired me to use it as my middle initial when I changed my name. I remain Kim Z.
But at the Bikram studio they've only known me since I've been married. They naively think of my initial as being the first letter of my last name. They don't know how foreign that sounds to me.
I'm sure I'll have to be Kim D again sometime. Probably at the yoga studio but in other places as well. Perhaps I'll get used to it, but it won't change the fact that I am now, and always will be, Kim Z.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A sea of changes rather than sea change
Before having a child of my own I thought of developmental milestones as a finite list of significant acts: rolling over, crawling, walking talking. But watching the critter keeps me amazed at the many subtle changes that I hadn’t thought about before. I remember how he used to root around headfirst with his arms just hanging limp. Then, he started to flail his arms, occasionally hitting a toy by luck. Then, he learned to grip. Now, he willfully bats at his toys and delights in their spinning and swinging.
The same goes for his voice. He still has a long way to go before his first word, but he has become so expressive with sounds other than just crying. I wish I knew what he was saying, but I love to watch how happy “talking” makes him. Yesterday he discovered that he has the ability to make a very high and loud squeaking sound. I’ll admit that the sound was not the most pleasant, but it was fun to see him delight in his discovery.
A friend told me that watching a baby is like watching the ocean. I think I know what she meant. Both are constantly changing. Both are calming. Both make me happy. Of course, I don’t live by the ocean, but Lake Michigan is a good stand in. This weekend I am likely to, at some point, be watching both my baby and the lake. How wonderful!
The same goes for his voice. He still has a long way to go before his first word, but he has become so expressive with sounds other than just crying. I wish I knew what he was saying, but I love to watch how happy “talking” makes him. Yesterday he discovered that he has the ability to make a very high and loud squeaking sound. I’ll admit that the sound was not the most pleasant, but it was fun to see him delight in his discovery.
A friend told me that watching a baby is like watching the ocean. I think I know what she meant. Both are constantly changing. Both are calming. Both make me happy. Of course, I don’t live by the ocean, but Lake Michigan is a good stand in. This weekend I am likely to, at some point, be watching both my baby and the lake. How wonderful!
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