Just chillin'

Aunt Diana (or "A Da-na-na", as Danielle says) reads Baby Girl a bedtime story. Danielle had a big day. She made a new friend at the gym, and did a lot of playing, with both Momma and Aunt Da-na-na.

She really didn't want Diana to go. She watched her through the upstairs porch rails like a lifer in maximum security eyeballing fresh meat. She tried to do an end-run around Mommy and Daddy to dash down the stairs and into Diana's truck, but we have longer legs. Well, Mommy does.

Self-medicating

Danielle got her first fat lip today, courtesy of, um, Danielle. She was racing along the driveway as usual, then tripped over her adorable little feet and face-planted into the cement. Ouch.

Mary said there was "blood everywhere", and a nasty little piece of skin flap hanging down from where baby girl's bottom teeth had torn into her upper lip.

Mary called me while I was jogging listening to a podcast on my iPhone (which is also an iPod, thank goodness for the double-duty). I hauled butt through the neighborhood back to the house, probably breaking many land speed records and triggering a small sonic boom in my wake (yeah, right), only to find Danielle happy in Mommy's arms up on the porch.

Turns out it looked a lot worse than it was. We put some ice on the boo-boo, and pretty soon, Little Miss Thang was taking charge of that, too.


(I won't tell Mommy than Danielle fell off the two-step baby slide the day before. That'll be our little secret. Wait... doh!)

Mass vs. New Technology: Who wins?

Wow. This video was sobering.

I watched it last night at about 11 p.m., and promptly sent it to my friends Kai and Michael. We've all been talking about car safety a lot recently. Michael introduced us to this very informative "car safety information aggregator" site: www.informedforlife.org, and we all ran out and bought minivans. Geeky, but safe.

Other tests proved more intuitive. On a level playing field, new safety technology might prevail. On an unlevel playing field, well, see for yourself.

I'm a pretty health-conscious guy. My daily commute is about the riskiest thing I do. Fuel economy doesn't mean much if you get squish, just like grape.

Happy Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of my Dad's marriage to India Chumney.

From our first meeting, she was (and is) as sweet and down to earth as one could be, a loving and kind person, to her family, her kids Lizzie and William, to my father Ron, and to me. And to their dogs and cats!

When she met Dad, he was struggling to get back on his feet, after a perfect storm of a lost job in a new city, a re-broken leg, and a bout with depression. That she was able to see his inner strength in a time of such struggle in his life is a testament to them both, and something for which I'm deeply grateful.

India has been a joy in my life. She's brought me a brother and sister I never had- William and Lizzie- and was a rock to my Dad during their 10 years together. She is probably the most industrious person I have ever met. She's been a source of strength and wisdom for Mary and I, and a wonderful grandma ("Cita") for Danielle.

Dad and India made a great team, evidenced by the success of their marriage, their business, and their kids Lizzie and William, who are both doing very well. I feel proud to be a part of their family, and that they are a part of mine.

My love and sympathies are with India today.

Chef Matt serves it up

We had dinner tonight with our friends Diana and Matt. Matt is a chef at a prominent local downtown Austin restaurant. He got very excited about his new Kitchen-Aide appliance, particularly the bread maker attachment.

This prompted Matt to make us some DEEEEE-LICIOUS homemade pizzas (uh, 5 of them), plus appetizers. And hors d'ouveurs. And alcohol. And guitar-pickin' until 1 a.m.

Yeah. It was a good night.



Danielle and Diana ogled Matt's, um, culinary skills. Yeah, that's it!

Danielle kicking' it at the mall

Danielle's having fun people-watching today while Mommy and Daddy shop.

Kissy Girl

Danielle gives big, wet, sloppy kisses to Daddy.

OH GOD!!! Only 13 more years until she's DATING!!!!! AAAAAGHGH!