Get over it!

Let me begin by saying that all the Democrats I know are perfectly reasonable people who accept the results of the last election and are busily working on improvements to their party so that it will be viable in the future. Good for them. But what I can't get over is that the far left is so unbelieving of the fact that more people wanted Bush re-elected than put their invisible man in the Oval Office that they are turning into a bunch of petulant little kids. For instance:

>Hollywood has-been Chevy Chase needs a boost for his lagging career, so to get some much-needed publicity he's launching another attack on our president.


"Even certified Hollywood liberals were reeling after Chevy Chase's potty-mouthed Bush-bashing Tuesday night at the Kennedy Center," the Washington Post reported today.


After fellow travelers Alec Baldwin and Susan Sarandon accepted some cheesy little awards from the hate group that calls itself People for the American Way, Chase, PAW's master of ceremonies, "took the stage a final time and unleashed a rant against President Bush that stunned the crowd. He deployed the four-letter word that got Vice President Cheney in hot water, using it as a noun. Chase called the prez a 'dumb [expletive].' He also used it as an adjective, assuring the audience, 'I'm no [expletive] clown either. ... This guy started a jihad,'" the Post revealed.

Chase raged, "This guy in office is an uneducated, real lying schmuck ... and we still couldn't beat him with a bore like Kerry."

PAW's president, Ralph Neas, clucked: "Chevy Chase's improvised remarks caught everyone off guard, and were inappropriate and offensive. It was not what I would have said, and certainly not the language People for the American Way would ever use in discussing any president of the United States."

PAW's founder, Norman Lear, who still hasn't kept the promise he made to the Wall Street Journal to move to New Zealand if Bush won re-election, said: "I thought it was utterly untoward, obviously unexpected and unscripted and all that stuff. And, uh - it was Chevy Chase. He'll live with it. I won't."

P.S.: Democrat soon-to-be-ex-senator Tom Daschle, the Post tattled, "looked taken aback when he went on directly after Chase."

Daschle's opening line: "I've had to follow a lot of speakers, but ..."<

I still don't know which was worse: Chase's rant or the fact that somebody was coked-up enough to give Sarandon and Baldwin an award for "protecting democracy."

Now I really am Miri's dad

It is a bright, breezy day here in Wichita, and my two best girls are having a snooze. I can't say that I blame them; it was a rough few days.

Miriam Joscelyn Bell was born at 5:42pm CST on Wednesday, December 8. She weighed 8 pounds, six ounces and was 20 inches long. She has lots of black hair and grey eyes. She came after nearly 12 hours of induced labor and much hollering and carrying on. I felt pretty useless through the whole thing, but at least I was there. Afterward, Cole (her mama) was exhausted, in pain, very hungry and more beautiful to me than ever. Later on, after I returned home from letting the dog out (poor Frippen!), I expected to find her out cold. Instead she was wide awake, smiling, hair back in place and ejoying hospital french fries. God, I love that woman...

Miri was very well formed for a newborn and the nurse cleaning her commented to me that her feet were very large. "Better go by a basketball, daddy," she said. I'm thinking fencing gear: tall people have a better reach!

We spent one day at the hospital (swanky corner suite) and got home last night about 9PM. Frippen wants to be a good big brother dog, but his terrier personality is overwhelming and annoying. He'll adapt, though; he's a good dog. Cole is breast feeding, but apparently it doesn't move quickly enough for Miri. She was up most of the night yelling for food. Finally, a little formula this morning satisfied her and Cole was able to get a nap. We don't have a bottle, though. I need to pick one up when I go grocery shopping today.

It was a great experience for all and we are looking forward to watching her grow. Check back here: I tend to brag.

Chuck, now Dad-man

Music in the air

With the holidays here, it is hard to escape all of the cheerful, festive music being played in both homes and stores. Cole and I were talking about it, and I came up with my 3 most favorite tunes and two least favorite. Not that anybody really cares, but that is what you get for reading this.

Most Favorite:
The Christmas Song (any version is worthy, but Nat King Cole's version is still the best)
I'll be Home for Christmas (what great history this song has! Look it up and get a new appreciation for the song)
Sleigh Ride (Mel Torme's version: skippy doodly wah)

Least Favorite:
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Have twangin' country Christmas, y'all)
Jingle Bell Rock (such awful lyrics...)

Well, today is Miri's due date, but still no little girl. *sigh*

Political cartoon

As both a librarian and a member of the vast right-wing conspiracy (which according to the American Library Association are mutually exclusive), I reccomend this cartoon:

http://www.time.com/time/election2004/cartoons/20040609/2.html

Oh, and no baby yet...

Dennis Miller sums it up

"If two gay guys want to get married, I couldn't care less. It's their business. If some foreigner wants to blow their wedding up, I want my government to eliminate him."

Dennis Miller, Jan. 2004

Yet another great book!

I love this part of my job! Here is another great picture book:

Mole and the Baby Bird
by Marjorie Newman, illustrated by Patrick Benson
Bloomsbury Childrens Books, 2002
ISBN 1-58234-784-0

Chuck

10 days and counting

After this morning's OB appointment, Cole is in the "any minute now" stage. Of course, it could still be December 6th before Miri shows up. I'll keep you posted.

Chuck

Yet another book

There are many, many, MANY "Christmas miracle" story and picture books out there, but I just found one that tops them all so far. Go out and find a copy of "The Christmas Cobwebs" by Odds Bodkin (grin), illustrated by Terry Widener (Guliver Books, 2001. ISBN 0152014594). Not Caldecott level illustrations, but a wonderful story.

They should have made this one instead of destroying "The Polar Express."

Traffic hazards

Dammit! If you own a dog, don't let it run free and unsupervised! Not only is this impolite, but it is dangerous for the dog. I hit one on a busy street last night, which I consider a tragedy. I love dogs and to be the cause of pain to one of those happy, trusting creatures is soul-crushing to me. But it could have been avoided completely if the dog's owner had not let it roam free. Moron! Idiot! Poor dog...

Hard to believe...

I really am going to be a father soon. Cole and I finished the last little touches in the nursery this morning and it was so cute that I got a little weepy. Now all it needs is the baby!

And it might be sooner than we expected! The due date is in 3 1/2 weeks, but is already showing signs that lador is approaching (no details: I don't want to embarrass her).

Chuck

Itsy-bitsy spider

Last night, while getting ready for bed, I noticed a small brown spider moving slowly across the floor. Usually, I leave spiders alone since they eat the bugs I really don't want in the house, but something about this one made me think twice. I killed it and checked it out. As I suspected: brown recluse, complete with little violin pattern on it's thorax. Great. The second most deadly species of spider in the US has taken up residence in my house. Uh! Kansas!

On a more happy note: Only four weeks till the arrival of Princess Miriam Littlegirl!

Kid's fiction recommendations

Gee, maybe the childrens librarian should recommend some titles. Okay! Let's go!

The Edge Chronicles #1: Beyond the Deepwoods
The Spiderwick Chronicles 1-5 (series complete)
Midnight for Charlie Bone
The Puppeteer's Apprentice
The City of Ember
Bailey School Kids (series)
Among the Hidden

Picture books:
Sector 7
Tuesday
Showdown at Lonesome Pellet
An Octopus Followed Me Home
any of the "McDuff" books by Rosemary Wells

Post -election thoughts

OK, usually I'm not one for conspiracy theory, but since this one is my own, I'm going with it:

Most people seem to think that Sen. Kerry conceded the election because the Ohio numbers really weren't there, added to the fact that the President won the popular vote nation-wide by 3.5 million (and beating history in the precess). I think, however, that he conceded because he got a call from Clinton: "John, concede. You aren't supposed to win. You are screwing up Hilary's 2008 campaign."

Just an idea. :) Oh, and...Rudy G. in 2008!

Chuck

Now when I was a boy...

Our first Halloween in Wichita brought a surprise: not only is there no specified times for trick or treating, but kids are driven from house to house by their folks. Hmm, let's see...take your kids out for sugary treats and make sure they don't get any exercise by walking. Oy, these kids today!

Gamers rule! (sometimes)

The National Review is a pretty conservative paper, but it comes as no surprise that even nationally newspaper columnists are "coming out of the closet" about being gamers. Gamers are a billion dollar industry and let's face it, geeks are running the industry now. I personally have very fond memories of my gaming days and I think this guy hits it right on the head of the nail. It was fun and actually beneficial, regardless of what out parents told us....

http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200410151029.asp

(Thanks to Deane for the article and text)

Sox win!

Congrats to the Boston Red Sox! Now many, many old people in Boston can die, since they have now seen the first World Series win since 1918. And, now the Chicago Cubs have a lock on the title "MLB's Biggest Losers."

The last lamaze class was last night. It seemed like a big waste of time, but at least I know where at the hospital to take Cole when she goes into labor.

Thanks to Philly Jenn for (fro) pointing out the mis-spellings in my header.

Blah weather day

I was supposed to have my pre-school story time today, but I guess it was too rainy and damp for the kids to come. Little cowards...

Less than a week to go till the big election. I'm listening more to tapes in the car because I'm tired of the political ads. Still, who would have thought that Hawaii would have become too close to call? Dan Inuea must be rolling over in his grave (that is, if he's dead).

Red Sox up 3 games to 0? Against the Cards? If they win and Kerry wins and Hawaii goes Republican, then surely the rapture is coming. Which is fine, since then we Jews will finally inherit the Earth.

Baseball

Hoping for a Boston-St. Louis World Series. Maybe Roger Clemmons will drown in a vat of beer during a brewery tour. Possible, since the Busch family owns the Cardinals...

First time-gimme lime!

I love lime flavored things...Stewart's Key Lime soda, lime tootsie rolls, lime Jell-o, lime Kool-Aid. But I hate limes. Go figure.

Anyway, since I have always been called opinionated, what better way to mouth off than with a blog. I'll probably really enjoy this, even when nobody reads it.

Miriam Joscelyn (Miri) due December 6. I'll keep you posted.