Gabriel, meet the Juenemanns

Today the extended Juenemann family will meet the youngest member of the clan. Heather and I are spending the day at the farm, with my siblings and parents. Many will be coming, which has me in high spirits, though I am sure Gabriel will mostly just want to eat, sleep and, uh... pollute. He is six days old, so I am sure that we can cut him some slack.

Heather's brother, Josh, spent the weekend with us. He is completely excited to be a new uncle and it shows. Josh is coming with us to the farm, too. My family has readily welcomed him, and has noted that he is just like family, as he joins in and makes himself at home. He is great with the kids, something that isn't difficult to see.

The Juskos are the type of family who communicate their fondness for each other; they hug and are very close. Of course, my parents love each of their children, but it hasn't been something that is overtly displayed. I didn't grow up with that closeness and affection. But my wife did, and with this beautiful newborn baby boy, it is easy to open my mind to the ideals of family warmth. I could get used to that loving expression of familial contact.

In this Juenemann family, nothing beats family time. Hugs? Just like the MasterCard commercials. Priceless.

First checkup

Today Gabriel had his first doctor's appointment. As first impressions go, Gabriel's pediatrician has a good bed-side manner. He makes a parent feel comfortable easily, which is, obviously, a good thing. We chose to take Gabriel to a pediatrician, because we were told that if we went with a general practitioner, he would refer us to the pediatrician anyway.

Gabriel has been getting into his routine better already. His first days of life, he was hungry constantly but not enough to be satisfied. His feedings were almost continuous and unfortunately for Heather, more nocturnal than not. Now, he is sleeping longer and nursing so much better. He is a quick learner, though, so all three of us are getting more restful sleep. Of course, this is new to Gabriel, being out in the world, so it is expected. Like a Chinese man when you spin him round and round, of course Gabriel is disoriented. =)

Birth Announcement

Our baby boy is here. Let me tell you about it.

Gabriel Reagan Denis Juenemann was born on Monday, January 24th, at 2:20 p.m. at Saint Joseph's Medical Center.

He is 21 inches in length and weighs 8 pounds, 13 ounces.

As a first-time Dad, let me tell you, he is just about the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. Gabriel and Heather are coming home today. In case you never hear me say it, life is good!

About yesterday...

I was chatting with my mother-in-law via email tonight and she said it would especially hit home that I am now a father once I bring Heather and Gabriel home from the hospital tomorrow. I am sure in some ways that will be the case, given that this almost seems too good to be true. I am sure that Laura speaks from experience and there is more than a grain of truth there. It's a life-altering event in my life, and one thought keeps jumping to the forefront of my mind. I have been sitting upstairs working on the truck inventory for most of the last eight hours. Every now and again, the thought just leaps into my mind... I am a DAD. Wow!

The experience where it really hit me, though, began when Gabriel's head started crowning during the delivery. I saw the intense concentration on the face of the doctor who was using a device called a vacuum extractor to help our baby along. It had gotten to a point of exhaustion for Heather and it became apparent that the baby was too large; Heather couldn't do it on her own. The nurses and doctor were working, almost holding their breath while hastening with great care, if you can imagine.

Maybe it was routine to the medical staff, but for me, it was an extreme moment where I didn't know what to feel, so I felt it all... fear, excitement, apprehension, concern, and total elation. Everyone was concerned because the labor couldn't progress further, since the baby was so large. It could have just been the intensity and urgency of what was happening. In any case, the moment that the baby's head was free and the doctor could bring the baby's shoulders out, I knew everything would be all right. What hit home for me was seeing my son for the first time. When it came time for me to cut the cord, I had to walk away for a minute to compose myself because I was shaking, completely overcome with more happiness than I have ever felt. I had tears in my eyes when I came back to see the beautiful baby Heather and I had created.

There were two days that will forever stand out in the history of my life. The first was the day that Heather and I were married. The second particularly significant day in my life was the day that my wife, the strong woman that she is, brought our son into the world. I cannot imagine anything in this world exceeding that complete happiness, and yet, I am a Dad. I know the best is yet to come. Life is very good.

Good news!

Good news! After working hard for about 14 hours, Heather and I have a healthy, beautiful baby boy.

Our son, Gabriel Reagan Denis Juenemann, was born Monday at 2:20 p.m. He weighs 8 pounds, 13 ounces and is 21 inches in length. He has a head full of dark brown hair.

It has been a long day and I need to get some sleep. I spent 14 hours at the hospital. I would have preferred to stay at the hospital with Heather all night, but came home to take care of our zoo. I will post more information soon. Our website will be online within the next week once I put the finishing touches on everything.

Tonight, I am a father. Wow.

Life as we know it is never going to be the same

Well, this is the last post I will make as a father-to-be. I finally figured out how to correctly install that, ummm... blasted car seat. Heather really wants to have Dr. Leland deliver our baby, so I hope he can make it. Heather's contractions are lasting 60 seconds or longer, and coming every 90-120 seconds so I decided it was time to stop torturing her and take her to the hospital. Actually, she told me that it is getting to be that time, and we have medical reasons such that we want her to be where expert assistance is readily available, just in case. Therefore, it is time to call this post complete and get out of here. We will have news soon. Stay tuned.

When I make my next post, I will be a daddy. Oh oh... I gotta go. I think the stork is knocking at the door.

The Times They Are A-Changin'

The "times" a-changin' in this case are the things we have gotten used to in our lives. Heather woke up at 3 a.m., having her first "true" contractions. Certainly, it is early and the contractions are irregular, from 5 to 13 minutes apart. We aren't making a mad dash to the hospital. We will make sure we have everything in order here and feed the birds and other animals so that they are in an orderly state during our absence. The hospital isn't more than three miles away, in the middle of Brainerd. The menagerie will be fine for a day or so, however long I need to be absent until our young one comes into the world. When the opportunity comes later, it isn't an impossible time commitment to feed and clean up the zoo. I will come home for that when the baby's schedule allows.

One thing Heather will tell you about me is that I detest tardiness. It drives me crazy to be anything short of punctual. I don't care if there is a whiteout snowstorm, because I will account for that and alter my activities or travel or whatever. Reliability and presentation are so important and nothing but the most extreme circumstance is going to stop me from being on time. Perhaps I should work for the postal service. I just do not like to be late.

Our baby's due date is today. I couldn't be more proud... our firstborn (soon-to-be born, that is) has already learned how essential it is to stay on schedule. =)

"It has a good beat and its easy to dance to."

Since the predicted date for the birth of our child is nearly upon us, we do not want to lose the chance to preserve photo opportunities or other natal things we might like to revisit when we are old and gray. I am referring to things like pictures of, in Dr. Leland's words, the now "mostly pregnant" Heather. We have saved many sonogram photos and regularly listen to the the baby. This weekend, Heather and I recorded the baby's heartbeat with the acoustic fetal monitor.

A baby's heart doesn't sound at all like an adult's heart, which is much slower and the sound of the individual heart valves is more clearly evident. An unborn child's heart sounds more like a very rapid drumbeat. I am not entirely satisfied with the sound quality, so we will possibly make another attempt today. The biological actions that influence the sound quality are numerous, and include the baby stirring or nutrients flowing between Mom and infant, even the sound of food absorption. It is a bit peculiar and yet awe-inspiring, the life we have created, with God's hand helping us along.

I read that the baby can somehow savor the distinction between sweets and salty foods, but since nutrition isn't introduced by mouth, that seems weird and yet, quite wonderful to me. Another thing, since the seventh month, the baby has been able to open their eyes (Grrrr. That is grammatically so incorrect since we are expecting ONE child, but I hate to say "his or her" which Heather will tell you drives me nuts. Still, we don't know if we are having a boy or a girl so I will have to allow myself to mangle the language at this time). The baby has been able to see bright light for a few months, too. That reminds me of how you can shine an intense light at your hand and see bone structures. In our baby's case, being in cramped quarters, so to speak, any bright light is subdued, especially for still-developing optic nerves. Irregardless, we regularly say, "Hello in there!"

There is so much going on here. It is all very exciting for us. Heather is a bit more tired and sore lately. I think that the baby isn't going to wait much longer, and that will be a relief, though of course, Heather is a bit apprehensive about the intensity of labor. Who can blame her? Still, she is strong and says many other women have gone through it so she can do it, too. Heather has a good attitude about everything. No wonder I love the woman. =)

Winter storms are awesome!

Okay. My sister and her hubby are winter wimps. =) Of course, I figured they weren't going to travel with a snowstorm in progress. Thank goodness Deb was blessed with common sense (brains, on the other hand... just kidding). I didn't know, however, that they were blessed with a snowstorm, too, until after a quick phone call. About eight inches of new snow fell yesterday. Heather and I are both glad as can be. Of course, we are mildly disappointed that the snowfall wasn't measured in feet, but what can you do? This new snowfall rocks! I hope it keeps snowing like this every week 'til March!

We are expecting at least one and possibly two individuals to stop by to check out some furniture we no longer need. We posted the furniture with a "recycling" group, the Cass-Crow Wing County chapter of FREECYCLE. You can check it out, too, at http://www.freecycle.org. We got a quick response, 17 inquiries the first day. Having been out of the area for work on Wednesday and Thursday, one or two of the respondents sent emails wondering why I didn't get back to them the first day. People do get wound up about freebies, don't they? FREECYCLE has groups all over the United States, hundreds of groups. We will see how it goes, but anything that keeps usable items out of the landfill is a good thing. As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.

Speaking of trash and treasure, the new Wal-mart Supercenter that is less than a mile from our home opens Monday. Gosh, are we thrilled. If you believe that, can I interest you in buying the Brooklyn Bridge?

It is time to play in the snow now. Whoohoo!

Will they or won't they?

I heard a rumor that my dorky sister, Deb, and my bother-in-law, Tom, might be coming to visit this weekend (yes, I did spell it that way intentionally). I hope that they do visit now, since the baby is due to be born on Monday the 24th. Since when do babies follow a schedule? The baby isn't going to be born this weekend. My schedule will not allow it! Note: I said that extra loud so the baby can hear.

Deb and Tom's kid, Matthew, wasn't feeling well last night so we may or may not have visitors. Our house isn't quite the disaster it usually is, so they are welcome to visit. Saturday is the big fishing derby on Gull Lake. Last year, there were over 14,000 people ice fishing on one bay and this year is rumored to be bigger, so we cannot pawn them off on some hotel for the weekend if they do visit. Just my luck, having to put up with my little sister for a whole weekend.

The winter weather advisory is now a heavy snow warning. Whoohoo! The prediction is for 6-10 inches of snow. If that keeps Tom from driving up, he is a disappointing version of a die-hard Minnesotan. Hey, we like snow around here. Sue me.

Dr. Leland told us on Monday that when the barometric pressure drops, lots and lots of babies are born. I woke up at my normal time this morning, Heather was already awake, (something that never happens). She was in the baby's room, and, get this... her activities were the epitome of that pre-labor symptom called nesting. Hey, I read all the books. The baby is coming soon! Batten down the hatches, boil the water, and, oh... the baby isn't going to be born this weekend. My schedule will not allow it!

The truth is out there. Blatantly.

It always amazes me that so many people who support the Democratic Party do so mindlessly. Before my Democrat friends angrily disavow knowing me or worse, let me explain. Condoleezza Rice, having been confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by a vote of 16-2, is now waiting for confirmation from the complete Senate. Why? Who is holding this up? I find it ironic that the man who is, in typical partisan fashion, delaying Rice's confirmation, is a white supremacist and an avowed racist who was a grand wizard for the Ku Klux Klan, and advised them for years AFTER he left the organization. Of course, I am talking about West Virginia Senator-for-life, Robert Byrd, who, by the way, has been in Congress since the start of the Korean War, a total of 52 years. Talk about an argument for term limits!

But I digress… I cannot explain Byrd’s position that Condoleezza Rice should not be the Secretary of State, so I will let him explain succinctly, in his very own words, against which, I cannot imagine how he can even defend his stance. Sen. Byrd was also a fierce opponent of desegregating the military, complaining in one letter: "I should rather die a thousand times and see old glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again than see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen of the wilds."

I find it ironic that the decision by Democrats to make Sen. Byrd the point man in the continuing assault against such a prominent African-American academic and leader as Doctor Rice, the position is a particularly awkward one, given his long history of racial delinquency. Only 3 years ago, he was forced to apologize for using that awful n-word twice in one of his ranting sessions. Isn’t it ironic that he is holding up the confirmation of the first black woman to be nominated as Secretary of State?

Do you need another example to convince you, and if so, how about this? Byrd filibustered the 1964 Civil Rights Act for 14 straight hours. And years after he said he'd left his white-sheeted brothers behind, he wrote to Georgia's Grand Imperial Wizard, urging, "The Klan is needed today as never before." Ironic, isn’t it?

Dr. Condoleezza Rice is a leader I have great respect for. She came from very humble beginnings to rise to the pinnacle of leadership. She came from paucity in Alabama to college at 15, graduated with high honors, holds several advanced degrees and has received many awards and accolades. That she is now the most powerful woman in the world is something I find comforting, with her wisdom, experience and her unwavering faith in God. To top it off, she is fluent in four languages. Crikey! Why is Byrd holding up her confirmation? The woman is certainly qualified after four years as National Security Advisor, more qualified than Byrd will ever be.

On a side note, I find it interesting the absurdity of protestors screeching that Bush is a racist and a sexist. Let's do the math: first woman National Security Advisor, first black Secretary of State, first Hispanic Attorney General, first black woman Secretary of State, among others. In sum total, with four years and 24 appointments, Bush has named to his Cabinet five women, four African-Americans, three Hispanics and two Asian-Americans, more than any other president. Wow. That proves he IS racist and sexist... doesn’t it???

Back to the point at hand, that black Americans and other minorities continue to stand with the Democrats when that party doesn’t represent their interests, uses them as pawns, is ironic, isn’t it? Before you think this is my defense of the Republican Party, here is my disclaimer. I am not a Republican. I believe in constitutional constructionism and holding to the ideals of the constitution, something that the Republicans only do marginally better than the Democrats.

I believe that less government is almost always a good thing. I know that the federal government has no constitutional authority taking money from the industrious and using that money to buy the votes of the so-called downtrodden, who often are in fact the indoctrinated slothful, who feel entitled to the government giving them "free money." Here is a news flash. That isn’t free money. It is money taken from the hard working to give to the shiftless, the illegal aliens, and the weak-minded dregs that follow dollar signs to the ballot box. America didn’t become great through idle hands and needy minds. Our nation became strong and free because the dreamers' reach exceeded their grasp. Our fathers accomplished the impossible. Thank God for that.

The people providing the “blue” votes in metropolitan areas are not ideologically descended from those dreamers. Naturally, the "blue state" populace will continue to support the Democratic Party when the Dems pander to them, buy their votes, and keep their constituents as mind-numbed robots spouting political myths and believing the Dem lies. I wish these citizens would occasionally think for themselves and see the power of their freedom, not the “free” government handouts, which do these entitlement addicts a disservice and this wastes their potential! We all can achieve a measure of success in our lives if only we understand it is up to our own actions to succeed.

There was once a great Democrat, John F. Kennedy, who said in his inaugural address, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

The ideals of that party do not exist in the Democratic party of today, not one bit. Certainly the survival of this party depends on keeping the minorities from success by their own actions. Maybe the party should be renamed the Dependent Socialist Party? There is nothing democratic about being the financially co-dependent stooge of a Maoist party that is all about suppressing the followers successes while enriching themselves. Wait a minute. Mom used to say "Self-praise stinks!" That sounds familiar and it is the self-congratulations of people like Hillary Clinton, Robert Byrd and Ted “Hiccup” Kennedy. Ironic, isn’t it? I can see the secret of the Dependent Democratic Party, and can hear it plainly manifest before us… “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. I am Oz, the great and powerful!” Are you now?

I really hope that some day, in America, there will be a viable third party that can accomplish good things for the future of America, without leaving what is left of our constitution behind, after the special interests and attorneys, (a.k.a. distortion artists, extortion artists, and what have you) are done deconstructing it. My child deserves better than this. America deserves better than this.

Managed to hold things off

Ok, not like I really had a say in whether or not the baby was coming when Doug was away, but I'm going to say that I managed to not go into labor. Now that he is back anything can happen. I hear that he drove through some heavy snow. I'm bummed that I missed it. You never know what you'll encounter when on a trip with Doug. That is why I like to go, not to mention that I enjoy his company.

Oh well, maybe we'll get the snow here that they are saying is possible. Notice that I didn't say "predicting"? We have a winter storm watch, not a warning. If it comes through, though, we could have around six or more inches of snow. That would really thrill me. I especially love to watch it falling. Snow coming down from the sky is something I find very beautiful. I hope to see more of it soon.

Home again

I am not going to write much tonight, tired and not in the frame of mind to be inspired. I just got home an hour ago from Grand Portage. The work went smoothly and I left by noon. The sky was gray but the roads were good. After about an hour, snow started falling. Literally, within about ten miles, it became so heavy that the road was in poor condition and the drivers heading north were weaving all over the road. I was driving about 25 miles an hour for fifty miles or so, and then, by the time I reached Duluth, the sun was shining and the roads were dry. Weird. I have heard of the influence of Lake Superior doing that to the weather, though I haven't ever actually driven in it. As cold as it has been, Lake Superior was all open water. Other than the monstrous icicles covering the overhanging trees and the rocky bluffs, there was no ice at all, not even on the North Shore.

This was a short road trip, simple work and not a challenge in any way. Some days, that is okay. In any case, it is nice to be home. I'm going to go see my wife. Later.

Missing Doug

Yep. Doug is missing. Nowhere to be found. Oh wait, that's because he is in a hotel room five miles from the Canadian border. No, what I really meant was that I miss my husband. I hate trips that involve him staying overnight somewhere else. Actually, if he didn't have a hotel room set up for him already, I probably would have gone with him. I love the drive to Grand Portage. It is beautiful and woodsy. I like stopping by Lake Superior on the way. Anyway, the casino hotel does not allow dogs, and our lap warmers can't be left alone forever. So, tonight, they will have the opportunity to occupy Doug's side of the bed, though I suspect that they will mostly curl up against me instead. They miss him, too.

Well, I'm taking my emotional, pregnant self up to bed, because I'm tired, too.
Now I lay me down to sleep...

Road trip, no baby yet

Today, I am leaving on a road trip to Grand Portage. I will be gone from this morning until tomorrow night. Unfortunately, on the way to Grand Portage, the north-eastern-most point in Minnesota (directly north of upper Michigan across Lake Superior), I have to detour to Red Lake, which is about two hours from Fargo, North Dakota. With service time, I figure the drive to Grand Portage will take me around 11 hours. Boy, am I excited. Not really.

Heather had a doctor's appointment yesterday morning. Of course, I went, as I always do if possible. The latest news? Most likely, the baby isn't going to be born early, and it is very unlikely that Heather will be in labor before I return tomorrow night. You know what they say about Murphy's Law? I don't think it applies in this case, since this isn't anything going wrong. Our new baby is something going quite right! As for old Murphy, he can go away. I am still predicting the baby will be born on the 21st, though if anything, I am predicting earlier, not later, than the baby will be born. That is my take on it anyway.

The road is calling. Time to go. Later.

Doing an inventory is so much fun

If the baby is born by next Monday, I will be off work for a week to welcome our child, to make things easier for Heather, and to be an involved new Dad. Whenever the baby IS born, I will be off work for a week, to be more accurate. Today I have such an exciting project ahead of me, in anticipation of the baby being born sometime soon. I need to inventory spare parts on my truck and update the detailed list I maintain, so that the tech who covers the MN service for a week isn't completely clueless. Then again, some of the guys we work with are a bit lost even with guidance. All I can do is to make a list to explain where every single part can be found. Piece of cake, right?

I was going to take off two weeks when the baby is born, but Heather and I have been thinking better of that. We have concluded that it would make sense for me to take a week off now and another week in late spring, when the baby is a bit older, but, before everyone else takes a break during the summer. I never take DTO during the summer because everybody and his brother take one or two weeks of vacation during that time. I like to stay busy, and I can only have so much time off without going stir crazy. Therefore, it makes more sense in that regard to take off a week in January and a week in May.

Heather has a doctor's appointment today, so there may be news to report later today. Stay tuned. That inventory work awaits, so I am now just a figment of your imagination.

* P O O F *

The Vikings, NFC final and the Super Bowl

A quick follow-up to my predicted outcome in Sunday's Vikings-Eagles NFC divisional, I didn’t expect Minnesota to win, as you can see in my recent entries. I still look forward to Donovan McNobjob going down in flames, choking in the NFC final, precisely the way he has done the last three years in a row.

While I am airing things I want… I want the Super Bowl to be a real nail-biter competition won by no more than 3 points, and won in overtime. I want better commercials during the Super Bowl. No oh-so-quixotic flaming horse farts in commercials this year, PLEASE? Okay, Budweiser? Advertisements can be hilarious and effective without sophomoric humor and witlessness. I want this over-choreographed stupefaction that is allegedly music in the loosest sense of the word, displayed on live TV (with a 7 second delay, of course) to be talented musicians just this once. It does beg the question, if a performer has to have a blatantly purposeful licentious “wardrobe malfunction”, what are they hiding by this so-called mishap? A lack of talent, perhaps? I want a brilliant, even interesting halftime show instead of the horse hockey I tune out due to absolute boredom within minutes of the start of the half-time show.

Other than that, as any true Vikings fan says this time of year, “There is always next year.” As for my disdain for the over-rated performance of Donovan McKnobjob, I don’t wish bad fortunes on anyone. After all, losing a football game isn’t a life-or-death occasion. It is much more important than that.

Georgia on my mind... And other things

Another early morning... I got bored with reading the fiction we call the news and thought I would write something. It was, in fact, good news to see the U.S. district court judge who rebuffed Michael Newdow, the busy-body atheist who wants to force us all to change to his way of thinking. After all, we can't have a president swearing on the Bible, even if W. happens to be a Christian and it is his personal decision to invoke his belief that God is in control, and he does so of his own free will. Nobody is forcing Newdow to pray or believe in anything. It would be nice if he would mind his own affairs instead of attempting to force his theologically-barren arrogance on the world.

I see that another judge decided that the concerns of six parents were more important than those of 2,000 parents, in ordering the removal of a sticker from inside the cover of science books in Georgia. The sticker in question says,

"This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered."

What is wrong with that? Nothing, since all accepted scientific knowledge is based on theory. Even when research studies support a hypothesis, it remains a theory supported by empirical evidence, except in the rare cases it is so evident that it becomes law after many years of study, such as Newton's Laws. Darwinism, however, is now and always will be nothing but a theory. The decision was handed down by another activist judge who routinely legislates from the bench. Is it just my imagination or have these wingnuts all sold their souls? As the saying goes, "If you're living like there is no hell, you better be right."

Enough of that. Now, for something really serious. *wink* The NFL today announced their fine against Minnesota Viking receiver Randy Moss for his faux mooning incident. Initial reports were he would be fined $5,000. They hit him for $10,000, due to his past antics and bad boy image. If 'The Freak' keeps playing with the results he just had when the Vikings stomped the Packers, he can run around with a rubber glove on his stylish afro and shout "I'm a squid!" as far as I am concerned. Brett Favre doesn't get a word of criticism for the throat-slashing motions that he displays regularly, and isn't that more offensive than pretending to moon the people who razz you constantly? Anyway... I still say McNaab is overrated and I would love to see the Eagles out of the playoffs. Of course, the Eagles have a tradition: choking in the NFC final every year lately, though I wouldn't mind the Vikings ending that tradition so the Vikings can choke in the NFC final instead of the Eagles doing it. I don't think the Vikings will beat the Eagles, but I will cheer them on and hope for their best performance.

Finally... Heather mentioned the Pro-life rally next weekend. IF she isn't in labor or in the hospital with our baby, and she wants to go, as long as I do not get dispatched to work, I will be marching for life with her. We must stand for what is clearly morally right, though it saddens me that there is even debate about taking the life of an innocent child. What is abortion really about? Three facts come to mind. One, selfish and irresponsible behavior and the convenience of birth control through infanticide. How cute. Two, the fact that we as a society have lost respect for life is a dangerous precendent and a slippery slope that leads to nothing but more death. Third, abortion on demand is about money. Planned Parenthood wouldn't care one bit about the so-called reproductive right of women to murder their children, if not for the dollar signs. Abortion is obviously not a reproductive right. Abstinence... now that is a reproductive right.

Planned Parenthood and the abortion clinics are making a fortune blatantly harvesting and selling the body parts of the unborn children they encourage to be conceived and aborted, strictly for the purpose of opportunistic greed. Sick as it is, there is a fortune in dirty money to be made selling dead babies. What about the lives and rights of those innocent babies who didn't ask to be created? Don't believe this is true? Please, don't take my word for it. Take the word of medical professionals who got out of the 'infanticide for profit' business, thank God. Look here, and be warned, this isn't a pretty site, but it is the shameful truth. The world needs to know the truth and defend life. Heather and I will defend life at every turn, and I hope you do, too.

I will become a first-time father in the next week or two, and every day it becomes more clear just how precious life really is. Ask Mom. She chose life and what a great decision that was! Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad. Later, guys.

Frigid Weather and Roe vs. Wade

It is getting pretty cold out, and it will get colder. Today Doug and I were out filling the feeders when it was -4 degrees. The wind chill was -24 degrees. The weather warning said, at least for this weekend, the wind chill is supposed to reach 40 below zero. I'm sure the really cold temperatures will continue beyond this weekend. It always seems to happen around now, too.

It is almost like God is saying something about Roe vs. Wade. The anniversary of that sad court decision is next Saturday, January 22nd. I'll probably be able to bring Doug out for this year's march. The only thing to stop me from going is going into labor. Last year, I marched in a group of strangers, because it was a weekday and Doug had to go somewhere. I have to dig some recent newspapers out of the recycling pile to copy the meeting information that I forgot to copy the other day. One would hope they would print that more than once, though. Anyway, what I was saying before is that it was bitterly cold for last year's march, also. Obviously, God is pro-life, but maybe He does turn down the temperature to get our attention. Honestly, you would think that He would turn up the temperature to give us a hint that we are going to Hell for killing His innocent children.

Actually, last year or the year before, the cold snap was followed by a slight warming trend. It got to right around freezing. After temperatures and wind chills that are this vicious, somewhere around 32 degrees Fahrenheit is downright tropical! I remember the ice separating from the driveway, so I could scrape it off. What was notable about it was that I was doing it while wearing toeless sandals, shorts, and a short-sleeved shirt. I was not cold at all. Maybe this year will be the same. After all, pregnancy has made me a furnace. I'll probably wear a sleeveless t-shirt this year.

I shoveled yesterday

Normally this would be nothing to speak of, but I haven't done any significant shoveling during my pregnancy until yesterday. The doctor said the baby moved down a little farther, but nothing else had happened. Since the baby is considered full term now, I figured that there would be no harm in helping things along. You have to understand that my mom shoveled the driveway on the day she was due with me and it put her into labor that afternoon. I'm under no delusions that I will go into labor early just because I shoveled, but I figure that it did something to help things along. If the baby moves down that much farther just because I did something a little more strenuous than usual, that is ok with me.

Now I'm sounding like I want this all over with, and I'm in the "get this baby out of me!" mode. That is not true. I'm kind of a chicken, so the fact that I've never gone through the whole childbirth process makes it slightly scary for me. I'm quite content to go on like this for awhile, though I frequently experience heartburn, lower back pain, shortness of breath, and charlie horses. Though I have extensive experience caring for children, including caring for a two-week-old at a crisis nursery, the prospect of parenthood still scares me. I've held an inconsolable baby for hours, potty-trained several children, taught one to walk, helped one girl through her first period and another through her first crush, and even had the sex talk. That doesn't prevent me from thinking, "HOLY CRAP!!! I'm responsible for this baby, which will soon exit my body in a very painful way, from the day it is born until it is an adult!" However, I can then take a step back and say, "Women have done this for eons, so I will survive." On top of that, I have a wonderful husband, and so the baby is not solely my responsibility. We are in this together and always have been. That is what reassures me.

Snow good news today in Minne-SNOW-ta

I am a happy camper today. We are in the midst of another little snow event. I could be glum about it; this isn't a blizzard, darn it. I could be bummed; we probably won't get more than three to six inches of snow. Instead, let me tell you, this is awesome. We are getting snow! Heather and I share the same attitude is, the more, the better! Whoohoo! It's snowing and that rocks!

Now that I got that out of my system, the more important news. Heather had a doctor's appointment on Monday. I went with her, as I usually do. I have made it to most appointments since Heather found out she was pregnant, having missed two so far. She may be going through the more tangible parts of this life-changing experience, but I don't want to miss a thing. As for what is new with the baby and what the doctor said, things look very good, though the baby hasn't dropped much yet. It appears, at this time, that the due date of January 24th, may be quite accurate and the baby isn't likely to be early... at least not this week. I will change my prediction, the baby will be born on the 21st.

Heather's parents will be back in Minnesota in a few weeks, so hopefully nature will time the delivery just right and the baby will be born a few days before that. If life has its own ideas, what can we do? Punt! We are ready to be a new mom and dad, the baby's room is prepared, and all that is left is the waiting. Heather is feeling good, other than the heartburn and constant bathroom breaks, and we are both in high spirits. Life is good! It is time to get ready for work, and even knowing that, life is good, indeed. I have only one request:

SEND MORE SNOW, PLEASE!

Only 349 more shopping days 'til Christmas

Today, we celebrated the last bit of Christmas in our home for the year of 2004. Again. Heather and I, along with her parents and brother, Josh, closed out the ‘04 Yuletide season this afternoon. I am going to be having a good ol' time with the Husqvarna chainsaw that I was given by the folks. But hey, wait a minute... this means more work for me. Darn it. They tricked me, those devious little… ahem… wonderful in-laws. Okay, I seriously need the chain saw to clean up the brush this spring and I am very appreciative, all kidding aside. I truly am part of the family, and what a gracious family it is. I don’t even say that with the assumption that Heather's parental units will be reading this at some point in time. They really are warm, welcoming and caring, and I am just one of the family when they are here.

Josh headed home a bit ago so he can work in the morning, but the future Nana and Papa Jusko will be with us until tomorrow when they head home to Indiana. I edited all the Christmas pictures that were taken today. I even resurrected our website this weekend, though in a new location on the web. After I renew and edit the content, I will post the URL here for those who might be interested. Among other things, I put in a page for the baby announcement (which says "no news yet" but stay tuned).

Holy mackerel. The Packers got their behinds kicked all over Lambeau, by the Vikings, no less. My nephew said he had a funny feeling the Vikings would win the game. You called it, Marty. Good job! I am not making any predictions for the NFC Division game against the Eagles, other than to say "it would take a miracle for the Vikings to win that one" but anything is possible if more than a bit unlikely. I would love to see Daunte have another career game. Regarding the division game, Rush was right on target. Donovan McNabb IS highly overvalued, though the Eagles have more than enough cohesiveness to make the odds of the Vikings winning against them uncertain. Still... with nothing to lose and everything to gain, I want the Vikings to kick some Philadelphia Beagle caboose and give 'em hell. Moss and other key players aren’t in good health so the odds are against a win for the Minnesota Moving Company. At this point, who cares?

Go Vikings!

By the way... it is now only 8,377 hours, or 30,158,756 seconds until Christmas. I need to either take down the Christmas tree soon or make up my mind to leave it up since Christmas is just around the corner.

Good night.

Work, insomnia, and Christmas. Again.

It’s a bit early to be awake on a Saturday. I wake up at about 5:00 a.m. every morning. It isn’t spring fever kicking in, because I love the snow and winter. Then again, I love to garden, as well, so it could be spring fever, couldn’t it? Oh no! I feel torn, like an old sweater! No…. just kidding, although that sounded like a Budweiser commercial with Charlton Hesston. You had to be there.

Anyway… I don’t know why I wake up so early, especially since I got home late last night from repairing a Diamond Cinema game at Red Lake that the preventative maintenance crew of four techs couldn’t fix. These jokers had all the replacement parts and four minds to work the problem through. These guys couldn’t figure it out, so they gave up, called me and left for the weekend. I think a significant part of the reason for the very existence of my job is all a state of mind, or lack thereof. When the level 1 techs cannot work out a problem to a favorable solution, or the casino techs get stumped, I get the call, the last line of defense between a broken game and lost revenue. That is the thing that separates me from the service center techs, not due to aptitude but due to their attitude… and I say this with irritation, not smugness. Most of what I do is straightforward, even the troubleshooting and repair. The task is to keep working, troubleshooting, and trying until the game is operating like new. For me, leaving work undone is altogether unacceptable and the majority of our techs plainly give up too readily. It is all very logical. The customer is the reason we have jobs, and if the game is out of service, nobody makes money. To borrow from an old phrase, if the customer “ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Heather’s parents, along with Josh, and Caleb the moose-sized Black Lab are at the house for Christmas. The in-laws arrived while I was at Red Lake. I missed out on fresh Papa Murphy’s pizza, but duty calls, and what is wrong with cold pizza? Not a thing! This morning I have a busy day, as I do my strength-training, get a hair cut and then Heather will be getting pictures taken again, the last before the baby is born. She tells me that I will be in some of the pictures but I will do my best to hide from the photographer. The best place for me is behind the camera.

Once the baby is born, we will be at the photo studio on a regular basis throughout the first year. We have a membership so it is inexpensive to have photos taken with no sitting fee. This reminds me, there are plenty of unfilled pages in the baby’s journal. I need to write more before the little one hatches. (Heather’s Dad tells her that she hatched from an egg, so it seems logical that her child would hatch, as well). Someday, the baby journal will be neat, I think, for our child to read our thoughts and know how we were feeling, our plans and activities getting ready for this exciting experience. I know already our lives will never be the same.

Today is Christmas… again. Under the circumstances, it would be outlandish to wish you a merry Christmas now, wouldn’t it? That is, unless you come over to our crowded house. So, have a pleasant weekend and stay cool. But don’t freeze your caboose off. I love winter!

Marty, I hope your intuition is right on target.

Go Vikings!

Oh, by the way...

I abandoned my website long ago. Until I get around to making a new site, spurred on as the proud father I will soon be, this blog is all I have online. For rich content in the meantime, you should check out my nephew's blog site. It is fantastic.

Marty, the consummate sports nut, has more faith in the Vikings than I do. He predicted they will beat the Pack this Sunday. The Vikes are overdue for a win, and with their offensive players, when they are healthy, they should easily win more than they lose. Still, a win against the Packers is the best win of all for a Vikings fan. I am not going so far as to wish for a SuperBowl. Minnesota is cold enough, and it will be a cold day in... Minnesota when they are in the big game again. Sigh... Still, Go Vikings!

I miss the days of Bud Grant and the Purple People Eaters.

As to the subject at hand, my nephew, Marty, has that great blog site. Check it out here: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=marty_b11

I'm outta here.

It's Christmas all over again.

Today, Heather's parents and her brother, Josh, will be with us for a few days. Better late than never, we are celebrating Christmas with the Jusko family. Why am I sitting here writing when I should be working? Oh well. Life is short, and some days, you gotta blog.

This should be an enjoyable weekend. I always have a good time with the in-laws. Besides, this is Christmas, even if it happens to be January 7th by the calendar's reckoning. I still have more Christmas cookies in the freezer, waiting to victimize the Juskos with my baking. *evil laugh*

I predict that Heather's parental units will return to Minnesota two weeks from tomorrow to see their first-born grandchild. I have already guessed that Heather will have the baby next weekend, and I even put it in writing. Doh. I hope I am right, but it doesn't really matter. This is just for fun, after all. As long as we have a healthy baby, the rest is just details.

Since today is Christmas in our home (again), I would say "Merry Christmas" but that seems a bit out of place with spring around the corner (I'm an optimist!) and no snow storms (drat anyhow). I guess I will defer to the closest holiday. Happy New Year! Yeah, yeah, so it is late. Get over it, you filthy animal. I have work to do. See you on the flip side.

We sure could use a little good news today.

Have you noticed that the media, whether it is cable news broadcasts, newspapers, radio, or magazines, all focus on the bad news? Why doesn’t the good news get kudos for a change? We hear about how 5.4 percent of people are out of work. What about the 94.6 percent of people who are working? First of all, 5 percent unemployment is considered full employment. You cannot ever achieve 100 percent employment or the economy will stagnate, job conditions will depreciate, etc. Economics 101. The point is: why doesn’t the media ever put a spotlight on the good news to give some hope to the world?

Case in point: the tsunami and its aftermath are heartbreaking, and it is sad that many have lost their lives, homes, and families. There is good in everything if you keep looking. What about the thousands, even millions of people, corporations, and organizations who are coming together with their time, contributions, and support? Some good comes in this cooperation of the many, instead of terror campaigns, hostilities, and awful news. This has become the largest humanitarian endeavor in the history of the world. Gee, is that bad news?

It is time to focus on the good people can do. No matter who you are, there is some good that you have done, I am sure. What are you best at, what do you offer that is really great? I should ask myself the same question, and maybe there is some work for me to do. We can all improve and give more of ourselves, after all. When you do well, I say, way to go and keep it up! When the media exploit the fact that sensationalism and bad news sells the papers, is it any wonder we lose sight of what can be accomplished? Working together, we can achieve anything. Some day, the fixation with bad news will fade into the rear view mirror of times gone by and it is said, the lion really will lay down with the lamb. Much more bad news will come first, but I look forward to the day when the good news makes the headlines.

Doug's long trip

At 9:30am this morning, Doug got called to bring a monitor (the screen in the slot machine) to his coworkers in Warroad, MN at Lake of the Woods Casino. I would have gone along, but I have trouble sitting still for a long time and didn't like the idea that the last 150 miles of the trip has no bathroom stops. Besides, Harry, Buster, Daisy, and Kiwi needed their cages cleaned and I need to get my hair cut before my last pregnancy pictures this weekend. I figured that I could get some stuff done here and not slow Doug down if I got hungry or had to go to the bathroom. After all, I want him to get home as soon as possible and Warroad, MN is approximately a five hour drive (one way) from our house. He shouldn't have to spend more than fifteen minutes at the casino, since he is just taking a monitor to some nimrods, but the roads up near the border aren't stellar. It snowed last weekend, and roads up there are not that frequently travelled.

So why does Doug have to run a monitor up there, and why am I calling these guys "nimrods"? Well...they are. They are up north doing "preventative maintenance" at several casinos and will be gone for two weeks. They obviously have either no common sense or insufficient foresight, because they brought two monitors to visit nine casinos, and they used both in the first casino. Some of those casinos are so far away that they don't get a tech up there unless there is something really wrong. They might get visited twice a year. You've got to figure that there is going to be lots to do when you do visit. Maybe I'm being to kind in calling them "nimrods".

As for why Doug usually likes to leave at 5am to go to Warroad, MN, and thus why he was unhappy about leaving at 10am to go there, why don't you check out the road atlas I know you have in your car. Look way up northwest, that is, on the North Dakota side of the state, but the Canadian border. Look for Lake of the Woods. It is a huge lake that is partly in the USA, but mostly in Canada. Notice how few roads are up there. The first time I was there with Doug, it amazed me to see the US Coast Guard station. I expected the Border Patrol. I like going up there and seeing the lake. But anybody reading this is probably thinking that I shouldn't be in that rural of an area so far from home so close to the end of my pregnancy. I wasn't worried about that so much as being hungry, uncomfortable, and having to go to the bathroom at an inopportune moment. After all, if I went into labor, I'd have my husband with me. He's participated in the birthing of many animals, and they aren't devoid of civilization up there. Warroad isn't that far from Roseau, which I guarantee has hospital. It doesn't matter, because I won't go into labor today, and I chose to stay home and clean bird cages, anyway.

When personal responsibility is lost...

You know, I am amazed. No offense to our lawyer friend, H1, but some lawyers apparently will defend anything, no matter how clearly incorrect it is. This isn't an "O.J. Simpson" or Scott Peterson event I am talking about, but for some young people suffering because of their irresponsible parents, I am certain it is as dreadful as can be. What I am referring to is a family court judge in New York who has stirred a controversy for ordering two women to NOT reproduce. That sounds awful and audacious, doesn't it? Where does SHE (the judge) get the right to tell the parents they cannot have more children? The background would suggest this judge is onto something... it is called COMMON SENSE.

The first case in point, a 31-year old woman, who has seven children, lost custody of her children, ranging in age from eight months to 12 years, with six being in state-funded foster care and the seventh child living with an aunt. The youngest child and two others tested positive for cocaine at birth, and all seven were removed from her custody and care because she could not take care of them. This is a fundamentally free country but for the impoverished, drug-addicted or parentally insufficient, how many children are too many? True, one does not want to open that can of worms carelessly, but it begs the question, what can be considered parental inadequacy? Certainly, caution is required, as the answer is an ambiguous designation, but with drug addiction and seven children removed due to neglect, it can be safely assumed the mother isn't competent to bear more children or even raise those she brought into the world.

What is fantastic about this story is the level-headed raison d'être of the judge, who made a prudent decision: "Because every child born deserves a mother and a father, or at the very least a mother or a father, this court is once again taking this unusual step of ordering this biological mother to conceive no more children until she reclaims her children from foster care or other caretakers,'" Judge Marilyn O'Connor said.

The second woman I refer to, in a case decision from last March, the same judge, Marilyn O'Connor ordered a drug-addicted, homeless mother of four to refrain from bearing children until she won back care of her children. The decision, the first of its kind in New York, is being appealed. APPEALED? APPEALED?!?! While the rights of procreation and parenthood shouldn't hastily be abridged or constrained, doesn't common sense dictate that a homeless woman who just happens to be drug-addicted and cannot provide any manner of shelter for her children, gee, Wally... maybe she shouldn't bear any more children?

There are "big picture" questions here that can apply to everyone, and for anyone with a conscience, the questions should apply, insomuch as in living the principles taught by our parents, knowing right from wrong and living honorably as best we can. For one, what happened to personal responsibility? Dare I say that the woman has no business bearing children that she cannot provide a good life for? (For the record, I am staunchly pro-life, so the children shouldn't be conceived in the first place if they cannot be properly cared for). Then, what crosses my mind next is, where are the many fathers of the eleven children in question? Can you guess how many fathers sired these eleven children? Eleven children, eleven fathers. There is something to be said for a stable home and hopefully, two parents. In this case, eleven children are paying the price for their parents being completely inadequate.

Finally, the ACLU, malevolent extremist organization that it is, has stuck their figurative legal nose into the middle of this argument, saying, "The right of procreation is a fundamental right that should never be limited." Their words, not mine. I consider myself a constitutional constructionist and therefore, would have to insist that the government should be small, efficient and should stick to what it was constitutionally mandated to do, defense of the state and administration of the rule of law. Less government control is almost always a very good thing. In this case, what about the rights of those children? I do not believe that because a child can be born, either parent should create children just because they can, and should, in fact, take pains to prevent children they cannot support from being conceived irresponsibly. We are not fascist Nazis here, and obviously, the government should not have the right to mandate sterilization or require contraceptives against the will of the mother and father, but there comes a time when irresponsibility has to be tempered with a firm hand. The judge in this case has stated that the women, should they reproduce again, will be held in contempt of court and jailed. At what point does irresponsible behavior become not just immoral, but illegal? Certainly this is not a victimless act, even though irresponsible reproduction is not a crime per se. When it becomes negligence and neglect, it then becomes an unambiguous criminal act.

I am going to be a father this month. I am eager and happy about the upcoming birth of our child. I have to tell you, truthfully, it makes me anxious, or I would be misleading you. This is a constructive nervous energy, asking myself questions, how will I be a good father, how can I provide a good home, good leadership and role models, that sort of thing. This baby is a precious gift in my life and I am delighted and determined to be a good parent and to have a solid, joyful home where my children know right from wrong and where personal responsibility is held in high regard. As a father-to-be, this does frustrate me that people would bring children into the world without the means to provide for them, not just a good home but an upbringing with ethical principles and integrity. Last question: what about adoption for those children, when there are many childless adults who long for children of their own? It is a sad state of affairs when no one is held accountable for their self-seeking misdeeds.

Thinking about all of this leaves me with far more questions than answers. What do you think?

The Chronicles of Narnia

This is the description of the Chronicles of Narnia, as written for Focus on the Family.

Be Transported To Another World
Between the lamppost and Cair Paravel on the Western Sea lies Narnia, a mystical land where animals hold the power of speech ... woodland fauns conspire with men ... dark forces, bent on conquest, gather at the world's rim to wage war against the realm's rightful king ... and the Great Lion Aslan is the only hope. Into this enchanted world comes a group of unlikely travelers. These ordinary boys and girls, when faced with peril, learn extraordinary lessons in courage, self-sacrifice, friendship and honor. Brought to life with a cast of over 100 actors, an original orchestral score and cinema-quality digital sound design. Includes The Magician's Nephew, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.

I can't tell you enough... these stories are fantastic. We look forward to one day sharing them with our children.

Long drives aren't so bad

Heather gave me the C.S. Lewis collection called The Chronicles of Narnia for Christmas. The version I have is audio drama created by Focus on the Family Radio Theater. With H off work now, she rides with me frequently and we listen to the stories of Narnia painted in words so masterfully by Clive Staples Lewis. Three hours of driving flies by, as we become absorbed in the stories. The Chronicles have such amazing depth, and realizing the parallels to the Bible, the power of the story-telling makes one appreciate the Biblical references that much more, references written into the stories brilliantly. This isn't like listening to an audio book, though. It is actually a group of over 100 talented voice actors who bring the stories to life with many sound effects and an orchestra. All that is left is for the imagination to paint the visual images and to let your mind, and your heart soar. I will have to encourage other family members to check it out, too. Heather knows me all too well and I love this gift. Any gift that encourages this soon-to-be Mom and Dad to share quality time together is close to priceless.

If you want to check out the Chronicles of Narnia, here it is. Thanks H. http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=3631#inside

Parenthood is on the horizon

Heather looks less than comfortable these days. I can only wonder when the baby will be born, though I have predicted it will be the weekend of the 15th. Heather has been right on with her weight gain, a pound a week. She eats so much healthier than anyone else in this household (that would be me), and I admire that. One good thing that has come out of this pregnancy is that I have been watchful to bring home healthy food for H, and it has influenced my habits as well. We are both eating healthier than ever.

Sometime in the next three weeks, we will be new parents. Admittedly, it is enough to scare the feathers off an armadillo, not an easy feat, as you can imagine, not a lot of feathers to be had there. We will be healthy and ready to take on this new challenge. What more could we ask for? Life is good.

New Year's Resolutions

I didn't plan to make any New Year's resolutions, and technically haven't. I have felt more motivated to work out and have gotten back into my workout routine, every morning for 90 minutes. Since I have worked out every day of 2005 (which would be impressive if it were October, not January 4th), this could be construed as a resolution in action. Work is a bit slower this time of year so I have free time to work on being fit, and for some unexplainable reason, I have the motivation, too. Weird, I know.

Heather and I haven't heard a word from the prodigal brother since the Harry Potter incident on Christmas. Of course, we aren't happy about that, since we have endeavored to make Dave feel welcome in our lives. Hopefully, things will become more peaceful in time. I do not want to lose a familial relationship over something as silly as a difference of opinion about a movie, but the ball is not in my court and it is not my decision to make.

when will I pop?

This seems to be a great topic for speculation. Doug's brother-in-law, Tom, seems to think it will be this coming weekend, January 8th or 9th, when my parents are here celebrating Christmas with us. Doug, himself, believes it will be sometime around the 15th of January. Obviously, no one but me believes the obstetrician and ultrasound technician who are measuring the baby and predicting the 24th or 25th of January, which is a couple days short of my birthday. I figure that no one but God knows, so I'm not going to try to predict, though the doctor can estimate. No matter what Doug says about a date, he wants the same thing that I do: for the baby to come when it is ready. Goodness knows, I'll never be truly ready. At least the crib and changing table are in place. I just need to wash the sheets and clothes in case I do get surprised before my due date. I suppose I should get on that just in case Tom is right. I certainly feel like I have no more room to expand! Does anybody else have a prediction?

We want more snow!

My agenda for today, a solid workout on our gym, then blowing snow off the driveway and finally, relaxation time with the Mom-to-be, and her brother, Josh, who is visiting our little zoo and adding a visiting zoo creature of his own, Caleb the black lab. I guess I better think about cleaning up that snow. How awesome is that? You may never meet another who loves to fire up the snowthrower as much as I do (maybe Tim “the Tool Man” Taylor, more power!!!). Yes, we DO love snow in our little neighborhood. We want more snow!

Happy New Year!

Today begins our weblog, something I thought about, but never got around to doing. I am off work for the New Year's holiday, and we are enjoying the tail end of a snowstorm, so i thought, why not? This snowfall was a geeky 98-pound weakling as snowstorms go. We got five inches of snow. Curses! We wanted snow measured in FEET! Whatever happened to the shut-down-the-state blizzards I recall from childhood when everyone was snowed in for at least a day or two? Old memories often bring exaggerations of reality, and memories receding into the innocence of a youngster’s past make childhood events all the grander, but I still wish for enough snow to be able to look down on my house from atop the smaller snowdrifts... just like “the olden days”, or in hopeful daydreams of how I wanted it to be in days gone by.

I am going to be a father sometime this month. Heather is in her 36th week of pregnancy, though lately more than a few people have declared that the doctor's estimation of her due date is off by a few weeks. The role of fatherhood looks easy as viewed from the outside, when it is somebody else’s problem and privilege. As the thrill of parenthood grows near, what person, generally considered rational and not too far from sanity, as I like to consider myself somewhat sane on most days, would NOT have at least a hint of trepidation looking at the big picture and asking questions. I cannot help wondering, "Can I handle this? Will I be a good father? How will we make ends meet? And, will the Minnesota Vikings EVER win 3 games in a row again?” I am not going to be so boldly presumptuous as to imagine the Vikings victors in the big game, not in one lifetime. But for my kids... I can hope.

I keep expecting Heather to go into labor at any moment. I assume any first-time prospective father would be that way. I am energized, thinking about the upcoming changes, seeing the baby developing day by day, and, watching Heather, the glowing Mommy-to-be, and how idyllic our lives really are. We are blessed beyond belief! This is the addition that will make our zoo a full house. Then again, we hope to have several children and so we may find ourselves one animal short of an Ark with this baby. Still, we must take one thing at a time. The resounding truth reverberating in my brain like a mantra, butterflies in the stomach, giddy like a child as Christmas draws near, is the reality that has been making itself at home in the corner of my mind… I am going to be a Daddy.

Welcome to our blog. Happy New Year..