Here's something neat! While vacationing in Sanibel, we were treated to a floral show provided by the night-blooming cereus. I'm not sure of the genus and official name of this particular variety as there are quite a few. This variety is a creeping cactus which blooms once per year at night [turns out this is not the bloom-once-per-annum variety, which is pretty rare, but it's still a beautiful and fragrant bloom. -Ed]. The blooms close up by morning. Click on the picture for an album of several blooms.
For a part-Lab you'd think Stella would be at home in the water. Alas she is not, but she is quite enamored of the water temp ducky.
Though it's still in beta, GrandCentral might be the Next Big Thing in phone applications -- for some people. The premise is pretty simple. You get a single number which you can then distribute to your contacts. Then, you input your phone numbers where you can be reached (e.g. home, business, cell, etc). When a call comes in to your GrandCentral number, it will ring all of your numbers (and caller ID is preserved) and if you pick up, you'll get to screen the call or pick it up.
There are some nifty features: you can set up different voicemail greetings by caller group (e.g. friends, family, work, other) and you can set ringback tones (what your callers here while your phone rings) by caller group. You can upload any mp3 file to use as your ringback tone too.
The cool part? Voicemails are stored in GrandCentral's servers and you can play them back via your browser. Everything is well-categorized and the user interface is pretty slick (AJAX is all the rage, isn't it?).
For me, I don't think it's that something I'll use too much. I don't change jobs very often (2 jobs in 12 years), and my cell number and home numbers don't change. And, I don't want to have to do a mass emailing or calling to alert all my contacts. So, don't write this number down in ink for your Rolodex (heh - analog contact databases are so retro!) but you can try it out and give me a call on my new GrandCentral number (404) 704-0087.
Well, today's the day - two months ago at 3:43 and 3:44 in the PM we took our daughter and son from being wombmates to being roommates. A lot has changed since then, as you might imagine... if you can't imagine it, then just try to picture worrying about whatever you worry about, and then multiply that by perhaps 4, and then cut back on your sleep by about half, then cut back on your "free time" to about zero, then cut out any extracurricular activities you used to do and introduce yourself to diapers and formula.
So around the Little household, the lawn goes unmowed for most of the month. Weeds are thriving, although the I noticed last week that the shade trees in our backyard started dropping their leaves during a stiff breeze. That means fall is well on its way, and I'll soon have only a few mows left which doesn't bother me in the least. On the outside, aside from the loosely-maintained appearance of the house, things look relatively normal. On the inside... well, the landscape has certainly changed.
You may have noticed that the crib-cam is vacant most of the time - that's because it's technically not a crib-cam, rather, it's a pack-n-play cam, and right now, we aren't packing the kids around in it very much. So, the P&P sites in the living room and is more of a storage compartment for the sundry items used during multiple child care: bibs, binkies, burpies, blankets, bottles, books, etc. (wow, I didn't think I could get that many B items in that list!).
We have also undertooken to move our combi-office from the 3rd bedroom upstairs into the side bonus room downstairs, which suits me just fine. It is closer to my music instruments and will allow me to (finally) get my music studio integrated into the office. At the moment, my office is mostly in boxes stacked up outside the room. It is strange how, when boxed, any room seems to occupy nearly double the original space.
The plan is to change the former office into a playroom to hold kid-oriented items, and then will eventually become a bedroom for one of the kids when they are old enough to want separate rooms. That, and I think Steph just wanted a creative outlet. So, the theme for this room is "Under the Sea", and we're hand-drawing/painting all the art this time - no templates. The backdrop of ocean color is done, complete with a few thermoclines, and we are currently scribing the multitude of creatures onto the now-blue-and-green-and-uhhh-cerulean walls. Steph did most of the larger creatures as she had more free time: we have a whale, dolphin, octopus, sea turtle, seahorse, and some miscellaneous fish. I've been doing more detail work: sunken treasure chest with guardian moray eel, various coral reefs with fans, stag corals, tube sponges and anemones, grasses, kelp, shells, and some schools of fish. Our styles are certainly different enough - Steph is going for a more solid block style reminiscent of a Richard Scarry book, whereas I am doing more of a stylized detailing - my fish don't look like fish, but more like humanized faces on fish bodies. I think I'm also going to do a shark in there somewhere, although I'll have to hide it somewhat because Steph wants everything to be all happy-faced and what not, but I like to put some "real life" in there. In the previous bedroom, which is done in an African Safari style, I was responsible for painting clouds. Yep, that's it, just clouds, so I add a couple of thunderheads and a bit of a vortex on one. Steph was a bit miffed, but I smiled and told her that the kids need to know that the world ain't all smiling animals and puffy clouds. Sometime the animals will take a leg off, and sometimes it rains. So I'm keeping with that theme in the Under the Sea room - I'm going to do a happy, smiling shark with a couple of bones in his teeth. :) We'll see if Steph actually paints that in there...
I just heard Maya making noises in the crib, so I suspect I'll have to wrap this up shortly. We are currently "vacationing" in Florida with Steph's mom. I say vacation because I've been working half the time, and really, there is no vacation with twin infants. But the extra help is nice, and being able to hop out to the beach and enjoy the red tide is great (all kidding aside, the red tide during my one beach trip this year does most assuredly suck and blow). I suspect we'll remain here until sometime in the middle of next week, at which point we'll head back to the ATL and resume all our home activities in preparation for fall.
Oh, and one other tidbit... we came down with the whole family in tow (parents, kids, dogs) and that was truly an enlightening experience. Luckily the van proved its worth with the kids in the middle row, Steph in the back row and dogs interspersed throughout the cabin. We were able to switch drivers every so often, and stop every 3-4 hours for feedings and changings. So the trip was not unbearable, and we did the 600 miles in one whack. It took about 2 hours longer than normal, which is pretty amazing considering all the stops. Back to my tidbit: I had my laptop out with the GPS hooked up to track our progress. Not that the trip is difficult: out from the house, to I-75 south then go 575 miles. Pretty easy navigation-wise, but I was more interested in tracking our arrival time and checking the times we would be passing through various metros to make sure we avoid any rush-hour driving. So, the laptop was out on the front seat and then we stopped to get gas. One of the dogs decided they couldn't wait and hopped up on the seat and managed to remove 5 keys from the keyboard. So, I'm basically pressing rubber nipples whenever I'm typing a 1, 4, j, or pressing enter. The enter key is the worst. But apparently our IT department has an extra keyboard that's just missing an N, so I'm only on the rocks for a little while longer.
I just thought of something... as I'm sitting here trying to get people to understand what it's like with two infants (and believe me - parents of just one have no idea), I just remembered that I have the latest issue of MAKE sitting in my bag. I got it probably two weeks ago and haven't even cracked the cover. That's pretty sad. But cool too. I have two beautiful kids to show for it. :)
P.S. We have nicknames for Devin and Maya. Devin is known is Mr. Man, Nugget (derivatives such as Nuggies, Nuggleboy, Nuggs are ok), and Chunky Monkey. Maya goes by Butterfly or most recently, Honeybee.
Anyway it was pretty fun planning it out and putting it all together. Worst part of the job? Cementing CPVC together - it's altogether nasty stuff.
I've uploaded some more pictures of the Nuggets. Check 'em out here!
Apparently my domain was up for renewal and I didn't know it.... but we're back on track!
As long as I'm here: things are going well; kids are great, work is good.
I was perusing my latest volume of MAKE on the plane trip down to JAX today, and lo the kind folks at MAKE have done gone and done it! They've created a new craft oriented magbook called CRAFT. I've just subscribed, an unfortunately, the premier issue doesn't come out until October. Boo! But I'm way on the jazz to get it!
The crib cam is up and running for the moment. Keep in mind that the kids kinda sleep anywhere for the time being - right now, that's the pack & play in the living room. And also keep in mind that I don't have a PC sitting there all the time :) N-joy.
I blogged a few days ago about the impending decision by the IAU to make or break Pluto's planetary status.
The votes are in, and Pluto is now just a regular Greek god of the underworld, a canine companion, and a "dwarf planet". Oh, and remeber those other possible planets I mentioned? Nope. Still not planets.
Had a weigh-in today. Devin is 8 lbs 3 oz, Maya is 7 lbs 11 oz. All good news! More pix to come...
I've been reading quite a bit on all things space-related. Here are some interesting tidbits:
Re: Voyager 1 (VGER!)
- is about to cross the heliosphere and into interstellar space.
- travels at about 1 million miles per day (!)
- is nuclear powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (who needs batteries?)
Re: Planets
- We are about to go from 9 to 12 celestial bodies.
- "Planets" will be the classical definition.
- "Plutons" is the new definition, which will include Pluto (duh) as well as Ceres, Charon and UB313.
- Ceres was formerly known as an asteroid
- Charon is the pluton-formerly-known-as-the-moon-of-Pluto (beat that, Prince!)
- UB313 is the latest reincarnation of the 80s band UB40 - they moved from the UK to Detroit.
I've been having this problem lately when my Treo 650 receives an SMS - it reboots. I thought the problem was specific to MMS, but seems like it could be either SMS or MMS. Here's how to fix it:
1) Use FileZ Treo application to browse Internal files.
2) Locate and delete "Messages Database". Be advised this deletes all SMS/MMS messages on the device.
That's it - oh, and a side note of interest: if you ever want to see the last error on the Treo, dial #*377 or #*ERR and you'll see the message. Mine was complaining about a UniqueID being duplicate.
I've posted a few new pictures in the Devin & Maya gallery for those of you who are interested. These are more "home" pictures - no more hospital pix :)
Milestones this week:
- Both kids have dropped their cords, which means...
- Both kids have had submersion baths, and they both seem to enjoy it.
- Tummy Time is fun: Maya has already learned how to flip from prone to supine positions. Whee!
That's about it for the moment. Gotta go fix up a bottle or two.
The new Hello Kitty FM Transmitter / Car Charger. Now, I have to ask: Who drives a car, has an iPod, and obviously a job or rich parents, and is still into Hello Kitty (besides Paris Hilton) ?
Hello?!
Obviously, some folks got to this post before I had time to add the text. But, the reason I took this is to ask a question:
Why do people feel the need to wear lycra shorts very much in public, when they very obviously should not? Lycra is not a forgiving medium when it comes to fashion, and I daresay that a very low percentage of people should actually consider wearing lycra as everyday wear to your local shopping establishments, or other places where you can be seen.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: perhaps she just got out of the gym, and needed to stop into Target to pick up a few things before heading home. Nope, she has two kids in tow and a cart full of purchases - so obviously not a quick stop into Target.
So, why subject me to your sensory smorgasbord of visual and olfactory delights? Because you have no shame. So, pardon me, it's been 3 days since I slept or showered and I need to go to Target to get something "real quick". I think diapers or something.
Congrats to Jamie & Jeremy, who have found out that they are expanding the family tree a little more!
I've posted some pictures up on my Google Picasa website.
Maya Ann was born at 3:43pm weighing in at 6lbs 1oz, 18" long. Devin Hayes
was born at 3:44pm weighing in at 6lbs 7oz, 19" long. Mom & kids are doing
quite well!! More pix soon.
Love,
Andy, Stephanie, Devin and Maya
<<DSC_0154.jpg>> <<DSC_0156.jpg>>
Yay, ice cubes! And, it's 10:21am. Kids are being born in 3½ hours. Strangely, I am not the slightest bit bothered by this. It's still very surreal. We'll see how that holds up at 2:30pm. :)
Oh, and one other bit of news. If you use a digital camera that accepts SD cards, Best Buy is running a $20 mail-in rebate on 2GB SanDisk SD cards, which brings the price down to $50. Not bad! Hurry up though, because the promo ends tomorrow (7/29).
Luckily the D50 arrived today with little time to spare! Only 22 hours left!! Here's my first shot. I did it in RAW format, just to be all cool and what-not. 
36½ hours and counting. It will be an interesting weekend. Steph's Mom is coming up for a few weeks, and Mom & Dad are coming down for the weekend. It'll be a full house for certain, although we will actually be in the hospital for 4 days while Steph recovers from have the kids cut out of her. That's actually a bit scary if you think about it too much. I have made a vow to be rather polarized about when end of the operating table I'll be on, and it will be the one without the scalpels.
On a side note, I am still waiting on my D50 to get here. Let's hope it's tomorrow. I would hate to have to post 3.2MP pix of the kids. ;-)
I've added some nice little links on the right: tunes I'm listening to, books I'm reading, and the niftiest feature: the NetFlix movies we have at the house. :) Snazzola!
Devin is 6lbs 12oz, Maya is 6lbs 10oz. Everybody is doing fine except Steph, who is ready for the kids to leave the nest already. We have the regular OB appointment this morning...perhaps he'll go ahead and schedule that C-section in the next couple of days. We'll see!
From an article in the New Zealand website "Stuff":
A Christian group urging parents to smack their children, using discipline sessions lasting up to 15 minutes, has been accused of promoting what amounts to child abuse.
Family Integrity has produced a controversial eight-page booklet on how to use physical punishment under the present law. Parents are told that smacking can be a "10-to-15-minute process" and that if a child reacts angrily, such as by slamming doors or "pouting", they should be smacked again.
"Smacking is meant to drive the foolishness, the sinful manifestations, out of the child's personality so that they do not become permanent fixtures," it says. Smacking is justified because children younger than age eight "do not think straight" and lack a developed sense of fair play and duty.
Here's a clip of the pamphlet:
Apparently good taste finally won the battle over art. This sculpture, which was outside of a local video production company here in Atlanta, is gone. I don't know when it was removed, but I drove past its former location a few days ago, and saw that either the composite of soup cans and bumpers had been painted with a new light-bending stealth paint, or they rusted away, or perhaps somebody just moved the damn thing. I'm betting on the latter, even though the former sounds way cooler. Actually, the video production company moved and I think they gave the property management the finger and took their damn statues with them. I bet they had to use the bigger U-Haul truck.
I can recall a few details from the placard: The piece was made by some US artist, now living in Spain, out of some 3,500 soup cans and old car bumpers. It was meant to symbolize the struggle of the weak against the overly powerful. I hear that the meak taste good with ketchup*. Anyway, here's a photo of the joint in memoriam.
*Interestingly, did you know this could be spelled catsup as well? I remember reading that on a bottle when I was a kid.
At least, that's what I'm telling myself. You see, after several weeks of off-n-on rain, coupled with the fact that I've been overbusy with assorted double-ended homestead preparatory tasks, our lawn has been left to, well, the weeds. And grass. Lots of grass. Let's just say that the back 40 was creeping up to calf height, and we're talking about bermuda grass here, people.
Mowing it was incredibly fun this evening. So much did I relish this task, I forewent (huh?) my trip to the gym, knowing that plenty of workout would be had beating back the assorted greeneries and weedytufts that have propped up residence in our yard. At least I was moderately prepped for the task - so much so in fact that I didn't start until 6:45pm, and finished up about 8ish, rightly drenched in swizzeat.
I like - nay - love grass.
No babies yet. Keep your fingers crossed. Also, I haven't posted recently due to a light bout of food poisoning which kept me out of commission for most of Thursday/Friday. PS. I just watched "Super-size Me", and I don't eat fast food very much anyway, but now I won't ever.
Dave JDs in our parking garage after a tough night.
Strobist: How To: DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio
I'm linking this to save for when my D50 comes in... time for Macro fun!!
Here's Steph at 35 weeks. She's practically reached DoubleWide™ status. :)
Two more pix of the redone stuff, including the dresser and my shoes, and Steph in a borrowed recliner in which she sleeps about 50% of the time (when there's sleep to be gotten).
You might also notice my stack of books in the top picture. This is stuff I'm currently reading:
1. David McCullough's 1776
2. Barlett & Steele's Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness
3. Dan Brown's Angels & Demons (again)
4. Clive Cussler's Fire & Ice (again)
5. Clive Cussler's Sahara (again)
6. Senzaki's The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans
1. Me in front of our calligraphy mural, done by Steph. Peace, Love, Health, Music (not in that order).
2. The furry kids on our redone bedroom. It used to be a chocolate brown. I told Steph I was tired of waking up feeling like I was in an anus. Not that I know what that's like, but I imagine it would be warm, moist, brown and dark. Our previous bedroom decor matched 50% of those criteria. I repainted our bedroom furniture from this orangey-colored wood to a nice Beluga Black, then topped it off with a few coats of Polycrylic. Walls were repainted from HersheySquirt Brown to Corn Husk Green (or some such color).
3. Here's another shot showing the repainted mirror and to B&W pix that evoke a mystical, ethereal feeling. One is a shot of some mountains from Tahiti, the other of a spruce forest in Alaska.
We're cruising at 34½ weeks. Picked out our pediatrician, a nice lady from South Africa. Not much interesting from the ultrasound appointment, other than the news that Devin is 5lbs 10oz and Maya is 5lbs 2oz. So, Steph is carrying around almost 11lbs of baby! I have to give her credit for hanging in there. We got an interesting ultrasound pic of Maya's face coming soon.
In other news, we found that the commuity center pool is open, nice, and inexpensive. Steph can spend all day in a low-g environment for $3!
As Plato once said, "Necessity is the mother of invention." As such, I have given birth a new salsa recipe. I happen to love salsa and am quite the connoisseur, if I do say so myself. And I do. So, I had a few friends over for an impromptu night of Euchre, and we absentmindedly forgot to retrieve salsa from the local Kroger - bad news!
So, I whipped out my new food processor (sidebar: I upgraded from a "chopper" to a full-fledged processor with the intent to prepare baby food in the not-to-distant future.) and mixed up a batch of salsa using items I had readily available.
Heretofore I had expounded upon the virtues of Don Pablo's salsa, and the made-in-the-restaurant salsa of Los Bravos (a local Atlanta CheapMex™ chain). I can proudly say that I will not be needing to procure these any longer! Although that will probably reduce my marguerita intake, but I digress.
So, without further adieu, my salsa recipe, including various taste modifiers.
Basic Red Salsa Recipe
- 1 can diced tomatoes. I've tried several versions, and the best is Contadina's Roasted Garlic Tomatoes. Since these can be hard to come by (I luckily got a 12 pack on my last trip to BJ's), I've resorted to using Kroger brand No Salt Added. It's not bad.
- 1 can ROTEL. You have several choices here. The best tasting is the Mexican version with lime and cilantro. It's not a heavy cilantro flavor, so it won't overpower the salsa. If you want heat, go with the Extra Hot flavor - but get some cilantro (not too much!) to add some flavor.
- 2 heaping tablespoons minced garlic. This is something you should have in your 'fridge at all times anyway. You can use fresh if you like - if you do, make sure you roast it! Also, make sure you get some of the garlic juice from the bottom of the jar.
- ¼ cup of peppers. You have several choices here, obviously based on the amount of heat you want. Everest: habanero. McKinley: jalapeno. Kilimanjaro: poblano. Backyard: serrano. You can also get pickled versions too, for a bit of "afterbite". I mainly used serrano for taste and jalapeno for heat. Just drop them in whole, washed and without stems.
- Lime Juice to taste. If you got the ROTEL Mexican variety, you only need a bit of this, or perhaps none.
- Fresh Cilantro. Go easy on this. It doesn't take much to overpower the salsa! If you got the ROTEL Mexican variety, you only need a bit of this, or perhaps none.
- Red Pepper, Crushed & Dried. You should have some of this in your pantry anyway. Just a couple of teaspoons of this for some pizzazz.
Coming up next... tomatillo (green) salsa!
Via Josh: Wm. Shatner sings My Way at the 2005 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to George Lucas show. Actually pretty funny.
