Just a wee break in the 90’s flashbacks this week, stay tuned for more…
It rained yesterday – Australian drought my ass. It rained on A Free Man and Boy Party Day, which meant that we were house bound for the bulk of the day. Boy Z has risen to toddlerhood proper and I just want to say that I now have sympathy for all you stay-at-home-parents. The boy is an insubordinate destructicon (he gets it from his Mother). Here’s hoping that this mythological Australian summer kicks in soon or I may go back to working five days a week.
My sanity was preserved by the arrival of two overseas packages yesterda. First, in the morning mail, was a box of Georgia schwag from Just Jessie containing more paraphenalia to make Boy Z the best dressed Little Dawg in the Southern Hemisphere. Even better, though, was DVDs of the first four games of the year – back when we still thought we were good. Watching the Bulldogs run all over Georgia Southern kept Boy Z quiet for a good two minutes.
With the afternoon post, my sanity was at a breaking point – the terrorist was on the verge of winning. Then my hardworking postman rang the bell again, this time with a box full of Obama paraphernalia kindly shipped my way by Alice of 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera – her campaign leftovers. It was a veritable treasure trove of all things Obama, including some t-shirts, stickers, buttons, posters (one of which is my favorite campaign image) and even Democratic mints. There was a notable shortage of Obama gear in Oz, so Alice’s package was a great treat for a fervent supporter of the president-elect. Plus, the stickers and pins distracted Boy Z for a fair few minutes. Although, I suspect that I’ll be finding Obama-Biden stickers stuck about the place for a few days.
My most heartfelt thanks to both Jessie and Alice!
———————
In lieu of an accompanying track, I’d like to point you to the Aquarium Drunkard who has a whole album of a show played by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash in 1969. Two of my favorite artists of all time – magical. Check it out here.
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by Chris
19 Nov 2008 at 09:00
What happened to my future son-in-law’s head? Is that a big bump or some schmutz on my computer screen?
by admin
19 Nov 2008 at 09:01
I’ve been trying to beat him into submission.
by Chris
19 Nov 2008 at 09:21
Is it working?
by admin
19 Nov 2008 at 09:48
Regrettably, no.
by tysdaddy
19 Nov 2008 at 13:31
I live here, and I don’t have that much Obama swag.
Cool lookin’ kid. I wish mine were that small still . . .
by heather
19 Nov 2008 at 13:50
Wow, that is a serious photo! Thank you for the link to Dylan and Cash. I have been listening to “Girl from the North Country” over and over. Somehow, it just is magic tonight. My best friend lived in one of the Brownstones where Dylan lived off of the University of Minnesota (my undergrad).
How did the sticker removal go?
by Jennifer
19 Nov 2008 at 14:35
I remember those days staying home with Chloe when she was about Zach’s age. Totally great when we could get outside for some chunk of time. Totally trying when you’re cooped up all day. We were in Maryland at the time. I tried to remember what I did to occupy rainy days when she was that age (only about a year and a half ago, but I’m already having memory lapses). I remember making a lot of muffins (and then cleaning up a big mess), finger paint (ditto the clean-up), going to the public library, “practicing” going out to eat at coffee shops (take crayons and don’t plan to linger), riding the bus or other mass transit, PetsMart as a zoo, lots of dancing with toy instruments and scarves, museums in the DC area (or any other large public space that gets you out of the house but provides space for movement). Plus, get him a raincoat and a raincover for the stroller and just go out. Chloe loves an umbrella.
by Erin
19 Nov 2008 at 15:06
Great gifts from abroad! How I wish I could walk around with Obama stickers and pins all over me like Boy Z and look so damn cute! And don’t you worry… the heat is coming! Trust me.
by Busy Dad Mumbles
19 Nov 2008 at 15:48
Looks like the Dawg down under was playing football without his helment. Hope he is okay.
Hope all is well down under.
Are you preparing for Thanksgiving? What do the Aussie’s do? Do you have turkey to cook?
How about enlightening us unedumacated!
by SSG
19 Nov 2008 at 18:05
How do I paste pics into the comments… don’t think I can eh? I saw the pic of wee Z and immediately I thought of this:
I Support My Parents’ Political Beliefs
and in the UK we call the things attached to his top “badges”. Is that what you mean by “pins”? I thought stateside people called them “buttons”? If buttons are badges, what do you call real buttons in the US?
I’ve always wondered that.
by arizaphale
19 Nov 2008 at 19:01
Wow! Hasn’t he grown up in the last two weeks? We used to go to those hideous Wiggly Worm style places on rainy days. But we went in a group so the parents could empathise with each other over the racket.
by Angel
19 Nov 2008 at 20:04
Thank you! I’ve been trying to convince people things were actually more controlled when I worked full time! It was hard to mess if everybod was gone or in daycare until 6pm or 7pm every night. Now we’re home all the time, and it shows. It drives me crazy.
by Prefers Her Fantasy Life
19 Nov 2008 at 22:46
Only a few short years and GameBoy will change your life.
by Jessica K
19 Nov 2008 at 23:38
Does your local library or bookstore have a good children’s section? We’ve been known to spend way too long looking at “free” books, then when that wears thin having coffee and chocolate milk.
You’d be surprised how many places have special activities for toddlers that are free or close to it (we have skating rink, movies where the sound is lowered and the lights raised, special museum rates, etc.). You could look on homeschool sites for your area to get ideas. Anything is better than being cooped up with a toddler on a rainy day!! Maybe my next package should be a box full of rainy day activities Jessie style? I wonder if you could handle the mess that goes along with it?! Oh, wait, I just thought of one of my favorites for little ones that age: http://www.flickr.com/photos/just_jessie/435532910/in/set-72157594587918391/
by mickey
20 Nov 2008 at 01:09
That kid looks like one happy democrat. He voted, right?
by courtney
20 Nov 2008 at 02:43
Cool! I never get presents in the mail.
by Gypsy
20 Nov 2008 at 05:57
Ah, care packages. I’m not sure there’s anything better to receive in the mail. Except for checks. Checks are good.
by admin
20 Nov 2008 at 07:10
Tysdaddy – Helps to be blogging buddies with a campaigner.
Heather – It’s good stuff isn’t it. Two of the best artists of their time converging.
Jennifer – Good advices. I should have thought of the pet store – we’ve one up the street and I’ve used that before.
Erin – So you (and they) say.
Busy Dad – He’s trying to go faster than his little legs allow right now. He’s constantly bruised. I’m waiting for a visit from Child Protection!
SSG – Brilliant tee! As for buttons/pins/badges – don’t know. I’m on my third country and I don’t know what anything’s called anymore.
Ariza – Part of my problem, and apologies to the Moms, is that I don’t want to hang out with stay at home moms at these kiddie places. It’s all just a bit much for me. I already went to a music class n Tuesday that was me and six Mums.
Angel – True. True. But I hope Boy Z is never in day care until 6 or 7.
Prefers – I’m of two minds on the Gameboy. I know it’s inevitable but man I think those things suck. I’m really pleased that Boy Z has shown no inclination to watch the TV and I’m hoping that continues.
JK – Great photos. I worry about taking him to a bookstore because he has a tendency to rip books right now. But I think the next week that it rains we’ll go for some variation of finger painting. Looks like something he’d enjoy and we’ve got a big covered patio that can be hosed down!
by admin
20 Nov 2008 at 07:11
Mickey – Twice.
Gypsy – I got a check this week too. Woo hoo!
by SSG
20 Nov 2008 at 08:41
went to get you that t-shirt for wee z and they are all sold out of the right size. dammit. oh well, galaxy caramels it is then.
by alice
20 Nov 2008 at 09:14
Wheee! So glad it all arrived in proper condition! The poster is also my favorite from the campaign materials collection (at least I think it is — I haven’t seen all the buttons yet)…
Boy Z (you know, in my head, I’m starting to think of him as Zed) looks properly enthusiastic about the new adminstration. My work here is done!
by Toasty
20 Nov 2008 at 09:46
That’s great! Love Boy Z with all the Obama shwag! I hope your music class went well. The classes themselves are fun, it’s just that sometimes you get stuck with a group of mommified mommies! Hope it doesn’t happen to you. Our last ballet class is tomorrow… Yay!
by Joe
20 Nov 2008 at 10:43
has he pricked himself with one of those buttons yet? It’s nice to see the young-uns supporting our new leader.