Crankcase

Two bags of jelly beans, a ten-year old and a Tilt-A-Whirl.

 And a Happy New Year to all! I tried to type this out at home yesterday, but the screen kept nervously spitting out letters like a junkie in need of a fix. I type at work and it's silk smooth. Maybe the beauty of a network enabled PC running XP on the QT, maybe there wasn't enough coal in the boiler of my modem at home, who's to say. Too many typos to speak of, so I waited to punch it out at lunchtime.

And what a fine lunch it is. Broiled salmon (fresh caught by my in-laws in Alaska, no less), a small side of grilled veggies mixed with some tortellini and a wonderful slab of Panera french bread, given to me by a carb-conscious co-worker. This is actually a huge meal for me. Last year I resolved to lose weight and add some muscle, but only managed to pull off the second item. So this year is the Year of the Small Gut. No specific diets (Garfield said it best: diet is spelled "DIE" with a T), but a definite increase in fruits and vegetables and a decrease in refined sugar, fat, and portion sizes. The last part is always the stickler. Until you read the nutrition labels, you don't realize you likely consume 3 to 4 times the portions they talk about. It's not as bad as it seems though. I eat about five meals a day (two snacks) and, although I haven't dropped an ounce, the energy level is a huge change. Like running a car for ten years on the cheapest gas you can buy then treating it to a tank full of premium.

Let's play Catch Up then, shall we? Surely. Christmas came and went with the usual flurry of gifts and jokes. Two really great gifts: a tool set from Crescent and a Nikon digital camera. The tools are first rate (already changed out my brakes using them) and the camera is beyond description. When the instruction book is bigger than the camera itself, you know you're dealing with something good. I'm still reading it and can't believe all the functions crammed into it.

New Year's resolution is, of course, to burn off the pounds. But at least I have something else to look forward to besides seeing my feet:

This was what I wanted to talk about way back in October. Yes, there will be a little monkey coming around some time in June if all goes well. Suggestions on equipment and names are always welcome.

posted by: Jiggsy at 01/17/05 11:57 | link | comments (12) |

Comments:

#1  17 January 2005 - 14:58

 

Aww look at that little pea! So cute! Congratulations again.

If I ever spawn children, I've always been fond of the name Guenivere for a girl and Aiden for a boy. You can steal either one of those if you wish since I may never even get the chance to use them.

As far as equipment goes, I always thought they should make a toddler-sized hamster ball so your kid can crawl/walk all around in it and never hurt themselves. Plus if they made you mad you could make them go for a spin.

This is why I shouldn't have kids. Let me know if you ever need me to babysit ;)

Anonymous

#2  17 January 2005 - 16:05

 

The hamster ball isn't actually all that bad idea. I didn't want kids until it was considered socially acceptable for the parents to carry tranquilizer pistols. Little Billy acts up in the mall and suddenly he's off in La-La Land thanks to vitamin
K(etamine).
I think my next post will be entirely about names. I could easily write a book about it.

Jiggsy

#3  17 January 2005 - 21:09

 

ei! just bloghopping here!

you're making me hungry. it's close to lunch here in manila. anyway, congratulations for having a baby. another laughter will be added to your home. if it's a gal, i like the ff names: ashley, liz, shaine, rainne & cossette. if it's a boy, i always like the name david, chris or jean. maybe you could hit your library or your bookstore to choose a name. a teacher reminded us before that a name will affect the child's personality. i really don't know if it's true though. if it will, better be safe than sorry. and oh, filipinos has this saying that the wife should choose her child's name because it's lucky. good luck! =)

flyingschoolgal

#4  18 January 2005 - 14:01

 

Cossette? Interesting name, definitely one I've never heard before.

And your teacher was right about a name molding the personality. We both have a list of names of people's names who just seem...off. It's not that every Mike is a troublemaker, but it seems that way.

I'm definitely going to flesh out a nice long post about names now.

Jiggsy

#5  21 January 2005 - 19:29

 

Hehehe...Mike is a trouble maker.

-Greg

Anonymous

#6  21 January 2005 - 19:30

 

Also, I suggest you purchase a genuine Herb Simpson Baby Translator. The best, I tell you, the best.

Anonymous

#7  24 January 2005 - 11:30

 

Funny about the baby translator: they already make one for dogs, yet nothing to divine the secrets of a baby's cry.

If I had my choice, I'd put in for the baby signing course. I don't know anyone who has used it, but it looks damn cool and far better than trying to guess at it.

Jiggsy

#8  24 January 2005 - 12:18

 

I actually have the Bow-Lingual. Sometimes it seems pretty accurate to what Chewie MIGHT be trying to tell me.

Ryan

Anonymous

#9  24 January 2005 - 15:20

 

Ours is gathering dust because we pretty much know what Maggie wants. Kinda freakish to look at her and say "Show me" and she leads you towards what she wants.

Jiggsy

#10  25 January 2005 - 07:27

 

That dog is too smart for her own good...

-Greg

Anonymous

#11  25 January 2005 - 11:58

 

Yeah, we know she's too smart to be loafing around our house. She should be working as a drug dog at Newark International or some sort of search and rescue program.

Jiggsy

#12  25 January 2005 - 13:27

 

Chewie is just "special". Most of the time she barks, grunts, and growls and I have NO CLUE why :)

Ryan

Anonymous

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