She's officially half my age . . .

It just occurred to me that theresat is 24, and I am 48. Wow.

I love you baby

Last year's post . . .

Good Lord, it's been 23 years since they put her -- all red and wriggly -- into my hands and I felt the enormity of being responsible for another living human being. artisticphoenix was not awake yet, so it was just me and T. I cannot describe it.

A few hours earlier, the doctor and I had been laughing and watching the NFL and the U.S. Open.

All of a sudden I was a daddy.

Wouldn't trade it for the world.

No one gave N. and I a user's manual, but I know we got it right.

I love you, T.

The 2005 edition . . .

Happy Birthday, theresat, from the person on Earth to see you and hold you.

Love, Dad

Quick Tuesday morning report

1. Fall has finally come to upstate New York! Saturday was steamy, but a storm front moved through overnight, and it's been much cooler since.

2. Welcome to asim, one of the coolest folks I have met in the SCA. I am glad I am reading you again. Of course, it's a little bit of a homecoming, because I bet at least 10 percent of my friends' list knows him!

3. Interesting overnight mail. The sports editor at Saratoga liked my story (which got good play and had a picture with it) and wants me to do more. A longf-lost friend wrote me back. While not that big a deal, I will not be worked for SCA. The local tissue paper company had better resumes. It would have been cool though. "Where do you work?" "SCA."

4. I have a job interview today and the substitute teaching intake (for the six-county area) tomorrow.

5. liamstliam: "I am a sensitive guy."

jenphalian: "You're a sensitive guy?"

liamstliam: "Yes, I am."

jenphalian: *points at my computer* "Is that your wallpaper?"

liamstliam: "Yes, yes it is."

jenphalian: "And who is that?"

liamstliam: "Why, that's Staff Sgt. Dignam 'He has a style all his own. I'm afraid we have to get used to it.' "

jenphalian: "Yeah, and he's probably saying, 'Your mother's probably tired from me fucking her.' Sensitive my ass."

I love my friends.

Tuesday afternoon update

Hello, all.

1. Busy morning. Interviewed at a nursing home that wants a volunteer director, something it has never had before. Landed a part-time job at a weekly newspaper, working a couple-three days a week, mostly in-office stuff to start.

2. Got another stringing assignment this afternoon. Girls' volleyball on Thursday.

3. I love Canada! Some of you know that. When Great Big Sea played in Ottawa and Toronto, we got to see Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans, who last night won the Canadian Country Music Awards Roots singer/artist award again. (I found out abou the award because I was listening to the Canadian Broadcasting Company's "This Week In Saskatchewan" podcast. I have already listening to Labrador and Newfoundland and Mritimes this week. More provinces to come). Anyway, what I thought was really cool was that the award Terri Clark won was the Kraft Cheez Whiz Fans' Choice Award.

4. Clearly the folks at the bread machine company have dealt with other bozos like me:

The kneading blades on these units are packaged strapped to the cord; as a result, they are easily overlooked.  Please check the cord to make sure that the kneading blade is, in fact, missing.

Um, yeah.

5. Dinner, for me and the lovely alethea_eastrid is local lamb cooked with garlic and rosemary and summer vegetables with the same. Plus couscous. I will be making chocolaye bread pudding later,

6. Tomorrow, mass substitute intake meeting at BOCES. Probably erranding to follow.

7. For what it's worth, I have found that I have developed some very private feelings about 9-11, so I am observing in my own quiet way. I am actually avoiding news podcasts today. That is not like me.

 

Pennsic and beer

From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

The state Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Pennsylvanianswill be able to walk into their local grocery or corner store and pickup a six-pack of beer along with toilet paper and a carton of milk.

The case grew out of a central Pennsylvania chain's long-running attempt tocapitalize on the state's arcane liquor laws and sell six-packs at oneof its convenience stores. A victory for Sheetz Inc. could produce newprofits for such chains and supermarkets.

It could also meanmajor competition for the hundreds of traditional beer distributors.They worry that customers will stop buying the cases they sell andstart buying six-packs elsewhere.

"It's the nail in the coffin,"said Chris Fetfatzes, part of the family that owns Bella Vista BeerDistributors at 11th and Fitzwater Streets. "This is our passion. Thisis our blood, our source of income."

A decision favorable to Sheetz could also affect the thousands of bars and taverns where Pennsylvanians now go to buy six-packs.

On the other hand, a loss for Sheetz could force the Liquor Control Boardto review its interpretation of existing law - and that could affectwho gets the coveted beer licenses.