Monday, February 23, 2009

Snow Day

We got thwackhammered by another snowstorm starting late last night and continuing well into this afternoon. My son and I got to skip school and work respectively. I don't quite feel like starting into a real entry, so I'll just make a few quick notes.



Our roof is leaking. Thankfully it's confined to an entryway, not a main living space, but it's still troublesome. You could take a shower by walking through that area just a bit slowly. The worst of it is that it'll be at least six weeks before winter has passed enough for a roofer to even consider taking a look at it. Then, we'll need a contractor to come in and replace a chunk of ceiling where the drywall panel has gotten soggy and begun to sag. Apparently there's a reason it's not called amphibiouswall.



I'm not complaining about the amount of snow I've shovelled this year, for one simple reason: I remember last year, which was much worse. There may have been more total snowfall this year - I don't remember the snow reaching the roof of our shed last year - but if so, it's been paced much better. Last year we had a long run of snowstorms every two or three days. I wouldn't even have finished cleaning up after one before the next one hit.



Another major difference in my shovelling this year: I haven't been the least bit sore the next day, even once. Before this winter, each snowstorm left me stiff and barely able to move for several days afterward. This winter, no problem (yet). That may be because I bought a new "ergonomic handle" scoop this fall, but I prefer to credit the exercise regimen I started in early 2008. It's laughable by the standards of anyone who's actually the least bit interested in fitness, but I guess any (regular) exercise is better than none.



My wife and son spent most of this Free Bonus Day working on a Beatles jigsaw puzzle. It includes the cover of Let It Be, so I thought it appropriate to put that album on for them (him, really) to listen to while they worked on it. He liked it, and spent much of the day hollering "Nothing's gonna change my world!" after hearing Across The Universe.



We went to visit Pastor Derek and family on Saturday. We had a nice but very short visit, although oddly we never did see the newborn boys. They're in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and there are very strict visiting requirements. Between our tight schedule and not wanting to bring more germs than necessary in around them, we stayed outside the unit while Homeschooler went in to do the feeding and whatever else goes on in there. Then we had lunch at a mall food court (swanky!), let the kids play for a while in the mall's play area, and came back home. Not an ideal visit, especially since Homeschooler was so busy with the boys that we barely got to see her, but far better than none, and probably the best we'll be able to fit in for a while. Adding two newborns to the mix will not simplify their family's social calendar.



Why do people always talk about the weight of newborns, anyway? I can only see two reasons for concern with something's precise weight: either you're planning to put it in a box and mail it, or you're calculating its cooking time. Call me old-fashioned, but I just don't think either of those should apply to newborn babies.



Even with the paucity of posting hereabouts of late, I'm averaging better than a post every four days so far for February. Not what I might have hoped, but I'm not terribly disappointed with it.


Enough rambling. Here's a picture of a courtyard at the Holy Land Experience.

4 comments:

RebelAngel said...

I would have to disagree slightly with your baby weight opinion. When the baby in question is premature, the weight actually gives people some idea of development and size that knowing how big a full-term baby is doesn't provide.

Anonymous said...

A pic of the White Album cover would be the worst jigsaw puzzle ever. Too bad Gary Larson missed that one.

TB

Zirbert said...

"RebelAngel said...

I would have to disagree slightly with your baby weight opinion. When the baby in question is premature, the weight actually gives people some idea of development and size that knowing how big a full-term baby is doesn't provide."

Your point is well made. Not funny, mind you, but well made.


TB said - "A pic of the White Album cover would be the worst jigsaw puzzle ever."

I have it on a T-shirt.


-Zirbert

HomeSchooler said...

When reading this blog, I thought exactly what RebelAngel did. The weight of a premature baby is directly related to the child's health. For example, a baby born under 1500 grams has a significantly lower chance of survival than one above that weight. Not only was I relieved to find out that both my boys were above that weight, but it made me glad that I stuffed myself like a Thanksgiving turkey with more nutrient-rich food than any human being should be forced to consume from the moment I discovered I was having twins. It gives me great joy to watch them grow as I shrink!

We were so happy to have the too-short visit and when the boys are big and strong enough we'll be headed north! I do wish I could have been around more while you were there, but as D. and I have come to realise for the time being our schedules and lives revolve around feeding the boys - either at the NICU or by pumping. Neither are the sort of thing you can put off!