Now that's progress (I guess)

Ogden Nash once said "progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." I now think I know what he meant...

Since my days of baby accessories have long been past, I'm truly amazed at the "new" innovations for tots. Mary Cameron (aka "the unit") has been showered with lots of fine gifts since her arrival 5 weeks ago. And many of these things were not around when I was a new dad. Stuff like boppies (very practical), inexpensive video monitors (very cool), all-in-one carseat/carrier/stroller inserts (very adaptable), and Pac N' Plays (not sure what it is - but I hear everybody needs one or two).

Then there's the Pacimal. It's a combination of a tiny stuffed animal with a pacifier buit in. They come as bunnies, ducks, even rhinos. MC just got a the monkey version. It looks a bit like the old monkey made out of socks (see photo), but much smaller. Plus, it has a high-quality pacifier embedded in the back of its head.

I refered to it as a "suck monkey".

I've since been told not to use the word "suck monkey" in public. I'll try - really hard...

Please Mr. Postman

Well, it looks as if the mad times known as the Christmas Season have arrived. The social calendar is already booked out this week - commitments on Tuesday night, Thursday night (a two-fer), Friday night, Saturday night and next Monday night. Six parties in seven days. Don't know if we're in top condition for such, but here we go...

And to top it off, we started getting the cards over the last couple of days. Always nice to hear from some old friends that you don't keep up with very well - especially the ones who include a journal for the past year's family activities/accomplishments. Then again, some folks you run into practically everyday - and they send a card to boot. Wha?

Wifey and I tend to vary year to year on card sending. Some years we're really into it. You know - make the photo in the summer, buy just the right envelopes, etc. Other times we just don't quite get there. Christmas '08 looks like maybe one of those. Although it's only the 15th and some intensive effort could make the card thing happen, I just don't see it right now. Bottom line it shouldn't really matter, but I do feel a little guilty. Oh, well. Maybe my sentiments are best described in the lyrical notes of my pal the late, quasi-great Ricky Harper...

I'll send you a card 'cause you sent me one,

I'll get you a gift 'cause you got me one,

Let's kill a tree and string it with lights!

Smile For the Camera

I've noticed that most of the blogs I see are heavy on the personal photos. I guess it's especially apropos to feature children and surrogate children (dogs, whatever) to the reader.

Since I don't really take photos and have no desires to feature myself, I tend to cruise the web and "borrow" nifty little images from random sites. Most of the time, the idea is to tie in a picture with the theme of the post, or something like that. Or maybe not...

I did happen upon a cool blog by a gifted photographer named Mike Terry from Salt Lake City. His stuff is always good, often surprizing and sometimes breathtaking. Check out his pics from this link when you get a few spare moments.

Back Again

I'm not sure how many times one can "fall out" of the blogosphere and then return, but here I am. After a brief surfacing last summer, I've decided to make a better effort at posting with some sort of regularity.

I begin with a little housecleaning on my blog roll. Mark Cuban has become a raving lunatic online (as opposed to real life where he's always been one) - so he's toast...

My friend George Light (aka Bulb) hasn't popped anything out since last February. I think 10 months is long enough to wait for anybody - so he's toast, too.

And sadly, the one and only Rex L. Camino hasn't posted since October 2007. He actually may be dead (hence, toast), so let's move on...

My one add (at least today) is darling daughter Meredith's new blog replete with many photos of precious granddaughter Mary Cameron. She's really a great little unit! Just the two of us had a serious afternoon nap in the recliner yesterday during some woeful college football game on ESPN. It sorta makes me think this "Pop" business will work out just fine...