Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Spring Edition

Uh, whoever it was here in the Pacific Northwest who struck the deal with Lucifer hastening the early spring February weather - complete with sunshine, warm temperatures, and flowers in full bloom - my heartfelt thanks for sacrificing your soul so that my sanity can be preserved.

Why do smoke alarms only seem to beep loudly and pronounce 'LOW BATTERY' in the wee hours (4:41 AM) of the morning? Just happened to me again last night.

Every once in a while, I toy with the idea of growing a beard. I usually don't get beyond the scruff stage before either I, or more often Mrs. LIAYF, decide that it is time for the prickly growth to be mowed off. Recently, I have opted not to shave on the weekends to give my face a break and well, just because it feels more manly. But last night, while rocking Lukas in the dark before putting him in his crib, he rubbed his face against mine and broke out laughing. "I like your whiskers" he proclaimed. "You do?" "Yeah, they're adorable daddy!"

Hmmm...I wasn't shooting for adorable with the beard, but I'm not one to pass up a compliment.

A few nights ago Lukas woke with a frightened cry at 4:00AM. I hopped up and rushed in to find him sitting up weeping. I asked what was wrong and he responded with a scared voice "A funny man is dancing around in my room". I have to admit that the skin on my head immediately crawled and I had to look over both shoulders, before telling him it was just a bad dream and that it was ok to go back to sleep.

I have been taking the bus to work since we sold our second car about a month ago. For weeks leading up to doing so, I have to admit I dreaded the thought. However, I have actually found it to be rather refreshing. I have been able to listen to lots of great podcasts and a ton of great music on the way. Music which I would have otherwise not have played at home or at work. Plus, rather than catch a transfer from downtown to my work, I have been walking the 12 blocks, uphill. I get a great workout, and some much needed fresh air.

Here is a cool video from the New Zealand Book Council that Mrs. LIAYF found embedded over at one of her favorite blogs d.Sharpe Journal:




And finally, team LIAYF was extremely excited this week to learn of the birth of one of the Internets most highly anticipated bundles of joy. Congratulations to Martin over at Xbox4NappyRash and his wife ET on the birth of their beautiful daughter Sanne.


Martin blogged with amazing humor and grace for many long months about the couples struggles with infertility. Having experienced first hand several long years of similar problems of our own, Mrs. LIAYF and I couldn't be happier for Martin and his family. Yes, the months ahead for them will be filled with many struggles, but they will also posses more sublime moments than they could ever imagine.

If you could, take a moment to head over and congratulate them. I guarantee, it'll make you feel good.

Feel like going random? Head on over to Keelys and join in the fun.

22 comments:

I am Harriet said...

I've had the same low battery beep thing happen to me. How annoying!

Have a great RTT!
http://harrietandfriends.com/2010/02/learn-how-to-slice-your-kids-hot-dogs-boomers-who-still-smoke-the-stuff-pit-bulls-and-little-people-all-have-what-in-common/

Eric said...

Congrats to Martin!

And can you send some spring this way? It's cold here in GA.

♥ Kathy said...

I had to look over my shoulder and make sure I was alone just hearing you talk about it. Yikes!

Not From Lapland said...

I miss that time travelling to work - whether in car bus or walking - just that time to listen to good music and let your mind go. I don't miss the work at all, but the commute...

Anonymous said...

Every fall I consider trying to grow a beard, but then I realize I haven't hit puberty yet. Beyond my chin I can't grow facial hair to save my life.

Just call me Yankee said...

I've had those wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-kid-saying-someone's-in-the-room freakouts too. And when you are a single mom, it actually does scare you.
Here from RTT.

Martin said...

:-)

Thanks James.

Delighted and exhausted here!

SciFi Dad said...

I used to take transit to work when I was a co-op student. I miss those naps.

Anonymous said...

my son woke up in the middle of the night a couple of months ago with similiar thing, saying the shadows in his room were going to hurt him! both my husband and i looked at each other and were like, what if we have a psychic kid, we don't want a psychic kid, ...we watch too much psychic kids.

The Crazy Coxes said...

That "man dancing around the room" at 4 am was YOU trying to shut off the stupid smoke alarm. Your son should be scared! ;) I've had that happen way too many times. Last week, I just ripped the whole thing of the ceiling and threw it into the garage!

Love the random!

Steve said...

Much like your 12 block walk, I choose to cycle to work as often as possible to get the "free" exercise built into my day.

That guy dancing around Lukas's room? Scary! I hope there are no ghost stories about your house...?

Mama Badger said...

Poor Lukas. Nobody needs weird men in their room at night.

Grow a beard. Give it a try. A new face for the new guy on the bus!

I covet your spring. We are still in the middle of krappe winter over here.

Now that you have posted that delicious picture, I will have to visit Martin and his new family.

Cajoh said...

Perhaps the dancing person was draining the battery in the smoke detector…

We had a CO2 detector that was actually plugged into the wall that was beeping incessantly. Our landlord was too cheep to buy a new one, so we had to get one ourselves.

Thanks for your randomness,

Amy W said...

Seriously, that battery thing must be universal! We had our fire alarms wired to the house electrical when we did our re-vamping a few years back, but there were still back-up batteries... sure enough, they went out at 2:30am and were impossible to figure out. Gah. On a side note: How do kids sleep through these things?!?

Um, did you say that you ran to attend a child that woke up crying in the night? Who ARE YOU?? And will you come and give lessons to my husband?!?

PLEASE??

Mom in High Heels said...

Excellent RTT. That's a good question about the smoke alarms. Why can't they run out of batteries at 4:41pm?
Indy has often said there was someone or something in his room and it freaks me out every time. What is up with that?
And if you could just blast a little of that spring weather to Germany, I'd be ever so grateful. It's slowly warming up here, but the sun is nowhere to be found. It's all clouds, rain, gloom and doom.

Mrs. M said...

I can't resist a new baby! :)

If you do grow the beard make sure to get a picture.

Lady Mama said...

What an adorable baby!

We just have one car too and though it sucks sometimes, I think my husband sort of enjoys listening to his i-pod and getting a little exercise on the way to work.

And, the fire alarm - ours, without fail, always goes off around 10 p.m. waking the kids up. Argh!

Anonymous said...

Funny man dancing in his room? Yikes!

I know this happens to every kid but I'm not looking forward to whatever mine might dream up at 4 am. I might wind up more scared than her...

If I Could Escape . . . said...

There's definitely an art to growing a beard or gotee to that perfect length. Ye know, so as to keep both parties 'appy!!

Slamdunk said...

I just read your post about the nice weather there, but had trouble concentrating with the snow blowers going outside this window...

Congrats to Martin as well.

Playstead said...

Grow the beard -- it's manly. I would if I didn't look like the wolfman.

James (SeattleDad) said...

@Harriet - Thanks for stopping by. I owe you a visit.

@Eric - It's not sunny here anymore, so maybe it came your way.

@Kathy - Yes, it was creepy!

@Heather - Sad, that as parents the downtime we get to enjoy is our commute.

@PJ - I'd have pegged you for a beard man.

@centralillinoisian - Yeah, I imagine! Thanks for stopping by.

@Xbox - Sleeping?

@Scifi - Wish I could nap during.

@Momshell - Haven't seen Psychic kids. Probably a good thing! Thanks for stopping by.

@Crazy Coxes - Funny, yes it seems to all blend together at times. Thanks for stopping by.

@Steve - Well, our house IS 100 years old. Yeesh.

@Mama Badger - Thanks for stopping by and for the Random comments. Love it.

@Cajoh - Now that is a cheap landlord. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

@Amy - Apparently you just need to keep elbowing him in the back until he relents! Thanks for stopping by.

@Mom in High Heels - Maybe there is a universal dancing clown that visits kids rooms around the world. Now there's a thought. Thanks for stopping by.

@Mighty M - Look for my slightly bearded cameo in this amazing video: http://allthatcomeswithit.com/archives/2219

@lady mama - I am with him on that one.

@handstowar - You will man. Guaranteed.

@Slamdunk - It has been nice. But not quite so nice anymore.

@Playsted - I am going with the 5 days on, 2 days off plan.