We had our first ultrasound today! There was much poking at Manju’s belly but we got to see the kid rolling around and giving us a thumbs-up.
The gender remains a mystery (our choice), but we had the sonographer write her educated guess (85% accuracy) on a card that we promptly sealed inside of an envelope. Now the question is how long can we wait before tearing it open to satisfy our curiosity.
After the campaign to SaveNetRadio got the attention of several members of the House, a bill has been introduced that would reverse the CRB decision and provide for a more equitable payment schedule.
Here is a blog post from Tim, the founder of Pandora, describing the waves of support from listeners.
If you want to get involved contact your representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equality Act.
If you listen to radio over the internet be very afraid. A new ruling about royalty payments has been handed down and it doesn’t look pretty. Most people are calling it a death sentence. If you like listening to internet radio get ready to contact your elected representative and let them know how you feel.
While my guitar
Gently weeps
Just a note to say that I’m really digging the guitar, or really just playing an instrument again. It’s nice to rediscover that 1) I could play for hours if my fingers had the stamina 2) that I totally lose myself when I’m creating music (no matter how ragged it is). Great way (dare I say even better than that glass of wine?) to take the edge off a rough day.
Added bonus: Bailey’s “humming” has progressed to a full “singing” now with quite a range from high to low and a few “barking” raps thrown in for good measure. Enough to make me weep - although the guitar weeps too since he usually licks it midway through his performance. We’re trying to get a video update, but he seems to get more shy around Kyle. It’s a mama-puppy thing I guess, and really best experienced in person.
We had a fabulous time in Yosemite a few weeks ago. We did the following hikes:
Pictures are available here.
I went to the Historic Auto Races at Laguna Seca last week and got to see all the cars I used to drool over when I was about 12. Pictures are available here. In between the practice sessions of the different car classes Toyota did a few laps with their Formula 1 car. On the first flying lap it destroyed the lap record with a sub 1:07 lap. And they still had some tuning to do. To say that thing was fast would be an understatement.
And before you know it
It’s nothing but
work work work all the time!
I think I averaged 60 hours a week for the last few weeks and managed to miss every possible amount of daylight that I could. But now the work’s done. And it’s time to relax. I’m looking forward to a weekend as great as the last one:
Last Saturday we discovered a really good Thai restaurant on San Pablo - one that’s been there for years, but I had never gone into. Was so good that we got take out from them two days later - medium spicy is hecka spicy - BUT SO GOOD! Had a good time over dinner catching up with recently transplanted cousins from Munich - it’s nice to have family so close!
That night, Evelyn & Scott managed to convince me to not work on Sunday like I had planned and to instead spend the day hiking in shockingly sunny Point Reyes and watching them enjoy oysters by Tamales Bay. It ended up being a fabulous and much needed break - I’ve termed these breaks a “sharpening of the sword”. A moment to hone what’s dull. The view out to Pacific was clear and blue and warm and calm and spectacular. A real treat, and I couldn’t think of a better way to have spent a Sunday! I was so happy, I even hugged a tree. Almost got run over by a cyclist, but neither the tree nor I were worse for wear.
So far so good this weekend. After work on Friday, Kyle and I went for a walk with Bailey and perched on our sunny porch enjoying a glass of wine, my feebled guitar strumming - and Bailey’s ever so sweet howling voice as the sun set. A sunny deck and a NY Times crossword puzzle, and I’d say life’s kinda pleasant right now.
If you don’t come across
I’ll be down
We saw Wordplay last night at the Albany twin. I’ve been a huge fan of Will Shortz since he was the editor at Games magazine, and the movie confirmed that the guy has a wicked sense of humor. Twas fun to watch it in a theater since I could be nerdy like the rest of the puzzlers in the room and yell out answers. Kyle kept quiet.
Did a NY Times Saturday puzzle this morning on the deck (a heavenly way to spend a Saturday morning I might add). It was very clever - and I finished it for once, which means that I’m feeling rather clever myself. Sudokus are so last year….
The pictures (and a couple of videos) of our trip to Boonville can be seen here. Given that it was 108°F it was no surprise that Bailey spent as much time as possible in the pond. We did manage to drink a lot of the local brew and visit a very dog friendly winery. Kai, Baileys buddy from Milo, came along since we were watching her for a couple of weeks.
