What a couple weeks!

As many of you know Sam's birthday was last Sunday. We originally planned to have his party last Saturday, but on Friday night Abby came down with a horrible stomach flu making a party for him at our house something of a dicey proposition. We were going to postpone the party for a week, but unfortunately, moving to the following weekend would have meant that only 2 guests could come. Luckily, Lynne very graciously offered up her house as an alternative venue, and we (well actually Cindy) were able to have the party, which as I will get to later turned out to a good thing. According to all involved a good time was had by all at the party, as games were played, cake was consumed, and Sam got a slew of really cool presents. We are very much in Lynne's, Jeff's, Erica's, and Natalie's debt. As I understand Sam and Natalie got a long very well, as you can see in the picture below.


So while Sam and Cindy were enjoying his party, Abby and I remained at home. I tried to study a bit while she mostly slept. On Sunday, however things started to get dicey for me, as I came down with some sort of normal flu bug. Normally that wouldn't be so vexing, except that last week was finals week at Ohio State and I was supposed to take an Econ (Ag Econ to be precise) final on Tuesday morning. I immediately emailed my professor and told him of the situation, and he graciously offered to let me take the final after the fact if I wasn't better by Tuesday morning, which as it turns out I wasn't.

In the meantime, Abby recovered from her stomach flu but caught my flu bug, and missed a couple days of school, and still isn't really back to 100%. Not to miss out on the action, Sam came down with the stomach flu a couple days ago and it seems have affected him a lot worse than it did Abby. I'll spare you the details, but just note that for about a day or so Sammy couldn't keep anything down, and is still somewhat leery of eating. In a lot of ways it was a good thing that we didn't move the party to yesterday.

Cindy, as you may have inferred, is still healthy but scared to be around the rest of us. I've no idea why.

A few random thoughts:

• Normally I'm somewhat upset if I get a B in a class, but this time not so much. As I mentioned earlier this particular class had a basis in Calculus, which 20 years ago kicked my behind. In some ways I view this B as vindication. I also want to go and punch my former calculus prof in the nose.
• I'm a bit torn on the auto bail-out. In principle industries should rise and all according to merit. And indeed, obsolescence and failure are fundamental to engendering progress in capitalism. Hence protecting industries from going under strikes me as fundamentally un-capitalistic. On the other hand, it's inarguable that letting the Big 3 go down would have dramatic and potentially hugely damaging effects on the economies of mid-western states, particularly Ohio and Michigan. So there is an equity concern involved as allowing the Big 3 to go down could have multiplier effects across various sectors. Allowing the Big 3 to declare bankruptcy would, I suspect, seal their doom since I find it unlikely that many would jump at the chance to buy a car from a bankrupt company. I've seen analogies drawn to the airlines many of which survived bankruptcy, but I'm unsure why that analogy would hold here. They are fundamentally different industries with differing externalities if they fail. At worst a customer of a bankrupt airline is out several hundred to a few thousand dollars if they fail, but otherwise is no worse off. A customer of a bankrupt automaker is stuck with an asset which will be harder to maintain, as suppliers go out of business, and even harder to sell when the time comes. In other words, in the short-run the former may be worse off, but can certainly recover, but in the long-run the latter is worse off since he will have a worthless asset. But then again that is the nature of capitalism, and there are reasons why Japanese automakers are doing well.
• Related to the above, I wonder if this isn't a time to think more strategically about transportation. It strikes me that auto travel is, in the aggregate, very inefficient. I don't particularly see why we can't utilize more economical means of moving people, especially on long trips. Each quarter when we make the trek from Columbus to Indy and back I wonder why we lack a sound rail system that would presumably use less fuel while moving more people across the country. What I'm driving at is whether we ought to consider alternative means of transportation in light of the precarious nature of the American auto industry as well as energy and environmental concerns.
  

An Interesting Couple of Weeks

It's been an interesting couple of weeks. Last week Cindy had a conference with Sam's pre-school teachers (a concept I'm still trying to grasp) to go over his progress. In a lot of ways it was reassuring since they were fairly pleased with him and generally thought he was doing well. They noted that he tended to be a follower, but also took direction well from them. The only real negative comment they had, if you can call it that, was that he likes to lay down when he plays or during story times. That isn't so bad, but they suggested it can be problematic if other kids start doing it. Otherwise, he's content, they're content, and we're content.

Abby has had an interesting time. Last Friday the nurse from her school called me to come get her because she was complaining of nausea and evidently had a low grade fever. However, over the weekend she was perfectly fine, though she was eating rather ravenously for her. Yesterday the nurse again called us to get her because she was complaining of the same symptoms. And again after she ate a bit she was perfectly fine. We took her to the doctor this morning to make sure that all was all right. The doctor just laughed and said that Abby was ok, but we need to do a better job of getting her to eat more substantiative things for breakfast aside from chocolate-chip pancakes. So that's good.

Abby and I did go to an OSU hockey game Saturday night and had a great time. So much so that I wish we had been able to bring Sammy too. The game itself was fairly exciting and intense, as a very youthful Ohio State squad defeated the 11th ranked MSU Spartans 3-1 to complete a series sweep. There was music playing in between down times on the ice to keep folks entertained and cameras set up throughout the Schottenstein arena that folks could interact with. At one point during a stoppage time their was an air guitar contest and during another they played YMCA over the soundsystem and showed various people doing the obligatory dance. As an aside I had forgotten how obnoxious 12 year-old boys can be. Abby really seemed to enjoy herself and with all the theatrics involved I think Sammy would have too. But alas it started right around his bedtime. We are planning to go again to a matinée game against Notre Dame in February, so that Sammy can join in on the fun.

And did anything else happen? Oh yeah, as for the election, it's hard to argue that the Republican brand name isn't tarnished. It will be interesting to see how the Democrats govern now that they have control over the Legislative and Executive. I tend to think that Obama's biggest challenge may be pursuing the centrist agenda he espouses while placating the left-wing of the Democratic party. That won't be an easy feat. I'll be happy if he can indeed change the tone of debate in this country, though I'm pessimistic that he, or anyone, can.

Other Random Items:

• Sam has insisted on wearing his new Christmas PJ's for 3 or 4 nights now. I suppose it's an improvement over when he wanted to sleep naked, but still.
  
• I'm unconvinced that the Big 12 deserves all the praise it's been getting. Scoring a lot of points is great, but giving them up not so great. That said I was impressed with what Texas Tech did to Oklahoma State.
• Along the same vein why is PSU's loss to Iowa damning to their BCS titles hopes, while Florida's loss, at home, to a fairly pedestrian Ole Miss isn't?
• College basketball is about to begin. All is right with the world.
• It looks like my general exam will be during Winter Quarter. As it turns out that works out best for my adviser and my committee, and also for me.
  

Anniversary and Other Items

Well, it's the middle of October and just a few days before our Anniversary. It's hard for me to conceive that we've been married 11 years, or more precisely that Cindy has put up with me for 11 years, but as I tell her I have much better taste than she does--just look at who we married.

Abby's soccer season is drawing to a close, but last week she showed signs of finally "getting it". She played her best game yet and was instrumental in stopping at least 3 scoring chances for the other team and setting her team up for their first score. She won't be confused for Mia Hamm anytime soon, but she showed definite improvement over her first few games. With 2 games remaining in the fall season I'm hopeful that she'll get her first goal. But regardless she seems to be having more fun now, which is the intent after all.

We got her first report card and for the most part were fairly pleased. She got high marks in virtually everything, though we were a bit surprised that she didn't do a bit better in math. I suspect it may be that she simply got bored when they were testing, which was something of an issue last year. In fact we found ourselves in the very odd, and frankly ludicrous, position of lecturing a kindergartner on the importance of giving her best effort on tests, but that's a slew of other issues.

Sam is doing well and is liking pre-school for the most part. Evidently, there comes a point in the day when he's had enough of it and lies down by himself on a rug and does his own thing while the class is going on. I'm not sure what's up with that, but admittedly there are times during meetings where that seems like a tempting idea.

Last Friday Cindy and Sam spent the whole day at the zoo and had a blast. And then Cindy, Abby, and Sam went again on Sunday while I got some stuff done at home. Needless to say a grand time was had by all, well by them at least.

A few random thougts:

• I know I'm not hip, but every now and then I come across posts on other blogs like this that remind me of my lack of hippness. Incidentally, the author (Kevin Carey) and I pretty much had the same life for a year in grad school. I'm not sure I've met a better writer than him.
  
• Lately I've been into southern rock and country rock bands, and recently discovered the Drive by Truckers.
• Ringo Starr announced that he won't be acccepting fan mail after October 20. Is this really an issue?
• I looked at the kid's college funds and my retirement fund and laughed to keep from crying. Good thing time is on our side.
• I decided to kill the other blog since I hadn't added anything to it in 5 weeks. I may resurrect it some other time.
  

Another Big Day

Last weekend was a big one for both Abby and Sam. On Friday night Grandma and Uncle Ray came from Indy, so that Ray and I could go to the game while Grandma got to spend a day with Abby and Sam. In the morning after pancakes--chocolate chip for Abby and Sam, blueberry for Cindy and Ray, and peanut-butter with chocolate chips and blueberry for me (Grandma had some as well though I forget which kind)--Grandma, Sam, Cindy and Abby went off to her soccer game while Ray and I, after his traditional stop at our local Tim Horton's, went off to the football game. In contrast to the game Cindy and I went to (YSU) we had little problem finding parking and getting on the shuttle from the West Campus lots. The game itself went pretty well and wasn't nearly as close as the final score indicated (34-21). In some ways the most remarkable part of the whole experience, aside from the game, is the efficiency with which OSU and the city are able to move such a large volume of people-100K+- in and out of the campus area.

[Cindy wrote most of this]Sadly Abby's soccer team went down 2-1, but Abby got her first experience at fullback and liked it. Apparently Sammy had a grand time playing with Grandma. After the game they went to one of our favorite metroparks, Blacklick, for a special celebration at the park. They went on a tram ride, went wading in the creek (Abby saw tadpoles), and created some beautiful artwork at a couple different craft stations. Then they came back home to meet up with daddy and Uncle Ray so that we could all go out to dinner at Abby and Sammy's favorite restaurant-- the Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe! This has been their favorite place to eat for a couple of years now. Abby looooves their cheese pizza and Sammy likes their kid-friendly marinara pasta (when he's in the mood for eating). They also love to go to the game room and watch mommy and daddy win lots of tickets for prizes. Abby really likes that awful crane game (you know, the one that is virtually impossible) but Chris was able to win a Care Bear for her. However, he was unable to harness a stuffed gorilla for Sam. After an hour or so in the arcade it was time for Grandma and Uncle Ray to head back to Indianapolis, much to the kid's chagrin.

A few random items/thoughts:

• For reasons known only to him Sam really wanted to sleep naked tonight. We're not sure why, but he had a monster fit putting on his jammies. It sort of reminded me of the old song, Pink Pajamas. If you don't know it ask a Boy Scout.
  
• The House really let us down yesterday. Hopefully sanity will set in the next couple days.
• It may amuse some to know that 20 years later calculus has once again reared it's head in my life. I'm taking an Ag Econ class this quarter in which some facility with calculus will be integral to my success.
  

Opening Day

Yesterday was opening day for OSU football. Cindy and I and 105,000 our closest personal friends packed ourselves into a concrete horseshoe in roughly 90 degree heat to watch the beloved Buckeyes take to the field of honor and glory to face off against Coach Tressel's former team, the Penguins of Youngstown State. Aside from Beanie Well's injury the game itself was fairly uneventful, which was it should be, just ask our friends in Ann Arbor. The most difficult part was simply getting in. One of the perks of working for OSU is that each month I pay a nominal fee for a parking pass, not too dissimilar from other places. But that pass allows me to park anywhere on campus on weekends and thus as long as I park in a university parking lot I never have to pay for parking. Of course that pass does me no good whatsoever when those lots are full, as was the case when we got to campus. We searched around for about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes before finally giving up and parking in a garage off Kenny Road (which oddly enough was right next door to where I work).

In terms of the game, it went pretty much as expected. It was sort of cool when the crowd started chanting "Future Heisman" when Terrelle Pryor entered the game, though the biggest cheer came when Chris Wells walked back to the OSU sideline from the locker room after his injury. It's not much of a stretch to say that Ohio State's BCS chances rest on his feet.

Incidentally, 2 personal (and slightly burnt) pepperoni pizzas, a bottle of water and a bottle of Coke cost $22 in the stadium.

Sam and Abby spent most of the day with our friends Susan and Katie and had many adventures in and around the bustling city of Gahanna. Later on we took them a to campfire and story telling program at one of the Metroparks (Blacklick park in Reynoldsburg). Abby roasted about 10 marshmallows and would have roasted a lot more, but we had to stop her since she doesn't particularly keen on eating them. Cindy and I ate most of them and would rather not see a marshmallow for a while. Sam roasted a couple, but really wasn't that much into it and ended up just holding onto one until he went to bed (yes, we did clean his hands before putting his pj's on).

After the roasting settled down, the naturalist at the park started to ask questions about stars and constellations, and Abby bless her soul, answered almost every one. I asked her later how she knew so much about constellations and she told me "from TV". Sam wore down a bit and was simply content to sit on our laps and look around. I think he was happy to just be outside at night.

A few random items:

• After introducing Sarah Palin as his runningmate, John McCain stopped by Columbus to buy a bunch of Buckeye stuff. Give him some credit, he knows how to play the home crowd.
• I'm thinking about starting another blog on topics related to higher ed.
• A dog sees a help wanted in the window of hardware store and asks the owner about the position. The owner says “A talking dog? You should get a job at the circus.” The dog replies “Why would the circus need a plumber?”

Hello Folks. A while back I came across this feature in Google and thought it may come in handy as a means of communicating with family and friends about our latest adventures or misadventures as the case may be. Hopefully, we can keep this updated a bit more frequently than we do our website. Feel free to leave comments by clicking in the comments section below.

Anyway to bring folks up to speed, I'm still working at the university and working toward a doctorate in Quantitative Research, Evaluation, and Measurement in Education. Interestingly, I've learned more about economics and finance as a student in Education than I ever did during my brief time as an Econ major. Go figure.

Cindy is loving life as a stay at home mom and earns some extra money doing occasional programs for the library system, as well birthday parties and takes care of a couple of other kids a few days a week. Oddly enough ever since she left the traditional work world she's been a lot busier.

Abby is now in first grade and mostly loving life. In a lot of ways she is a bevy of seeming contradictions. She loves princesses, fairies, and a number of things considered "girlie" and will rail against things that are too "boyey". Yet, she loves to hike, camp, and, as we are finding out, fish. Last week we took her out to fish for just her second time. I was a bit tentative to use live bait since I wasn't sure how she would react to impaling living things. But after an hour or so of not getting any bites using artificial bait someone gave us his leftover worms, and Abby, with an almost disturbing amount of enthusiasm, grabbed a handful and begged me to put one on her hook. Though we didn't catch anything we certainly got a lot more bites. Maybe someday we'll beat this record.

Sam is 3 1/2 and quite a little character. He is constantly playing jokes on us, mostly hiding things, or saying things to be funny, and a good number of times they actually are. Like his sister he seems to enjoy being outside especially if there is water around. He likes swimming, splashing around and generally being wet oft times to our despair. Homer Simpson meets vegansism would best describe his diet. He likes fruits and vegetables and were it not for bacon and donuts he would eat them almost exclusively. He also likes to watch golf and baseball on TV and gets quite excited when someone hits a ball, regardless of what happens to the ball-- foul balls get the same cheer as homeruns; balls in the drink get as a big a cheer from him as do holes-in-one. I'm hoping to work on that.

Anyway, that should bring you up to speed on us.

A few random thoughts:

• Boys and girls are fundamentally different and those who suggest otherwise are frankly daft.
  
• In an ironic complaint, elementary school is too academic. I question whether it's necessary to keep first graders in class for 7 hours a day, or how much value is added to their education by the 1/2 hour or so of homework we're doing nightly. Considering that Abby gets on the bus just before 9 and gets home around 5, it all seems excessive for a 6 year old.
• Pandora.com is the greatest website ever.
  
• The "Wallace and Gromit" shorts are hilarious, as is the movie.
  
• College football is starting up and this makes me happy.

Chris