Grandmothers

Both of our mom's were recently here to visit and meet Lola. This gave me more sleep than I usually get and extra hands to help with Lola. Thank you to both of you!

Lola is learning to smile, coo, and control her head. She had her 2 month check up last week and is now 10 lbs., 2 ounces and 22 inches long. She sleeps for about 6 hours at night and still naps often during the day. She enjoys her awake time when we sing, have tummy time, and play. She is generally a happy baby with some times of fussiness. Her fussiness is usually the result of her "fighting sleep" and then she gets overly tired and irritable (just like her dad:) ). She is a sweet little girl.

Stealing a Police Helicopter

About three weeks ago I had a vivid dream where I unknowingly became involved in the theft of a police helicopter. In the dream, I was hanging out with some shady characters and we stole the chopper together. I flew them around the valley at night and dropped each one of them off above their homes. After I dropped the last one off, I remember thinking that I didn't know how to land the helicopter safely. I flew around the valley at night, went into the northwest and tried to find my house. The valley was gold and sparkling and the dream was awesome.
I eventually shrunk down and entered the home of my "friend," random movie gangster, Frank Vincent. He was sleeping in bed under burgundy sheets while I circled around his white room laughing hysterically to myself. Eventually, Frank woke up and tried to swat me out of the air. I quickly headed out of his bedroom and into a brief maze of narrow halls. I made it to the living room and almost out the front door when the police stopped me, causing me to grow back to my normal size. They falsely arrested me for operating a helicopter under the influence. I stayed quiet and was thankful that they hadn't arrested me for stealing a police helicopter. Eventually, the cops started drinking and partying with Frank and, by now, his girlfriend. We were all sitting in his living room which had many animal pelts hanging from the walls. The police were getting drunk while Frank was telling funny stories and speaking very loudly. I sat in handcuffs, my dark blue jeans, orange pumas, and a gray v-neck t-shirt. As we were about to leave for the police station I pleaded with the cops that they couldn't take me in in their condition. I also explained that I hadn't even been drinking and that they should just keep having a good time with Frank. They agreed with me, gave me the keys to the helicopter (do helicopters even take keys?), and I flew away into the night. I don't really remember what happened after that.

Recent photos of Lola

A Yard You Don't Touch

It took about three weeks, but it's finished. The goal was to rip out the backyard, extend the patio and put in all native Mojave desert plants. It may look a little sparse right now, but in a year or two I expect it to be a desert wildflower hummingbird and butterfly Mecca (except my house doesn't have half the corruption, oil, or influence on the US federal government as Saudi Arabia). Anyway, the yard was completed with love alone. Each plant was cradled and planted with the most tender of care. Each stone was laid with purpose. Each cactus clipping was stolen in the middle of the night with the most stealth. The flowers were selected based on me having wildflowers year around. The research and self education that it took to learn about desert southwestern soils and plants was sizable. So far, only one plant has died. I had him pegged as quitter from the beginning and frankly, the yard is stronger with his absence.

In class the other day while talking about the 1920s and machines:
Teacher: "What can people do that machines can't do?"
Student: (has a look on her face as though she had just discovered The Way and speaks with a passion) - "Robots don't have feelings."
Clearly, she had not seen Terminator 2 or 3 and is far too young to have remembered Johnny 5.