tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36190082011-04-21T19:21:12.090-07:00A husband and wife record and share the more or less mundane aspects of domestic bliss. Along with new parenthood, ''new'' home management, and life in general. Updated as life permits.DPnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1091551370021872622004-08-03T09:40:00.000-07:002004-08-03T09:42:50.020-07:00

We are experiencing technical difficulties. Dale: Blogger has made it a nightmare to post at this address. As a result, this blog is now closed. The good news? Please consider yourself invited to the sequel blog: To Love, Honor and Blog II. Thank you for your patronage.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1079657917474171602004-03-18T16:32:00.000-08:002004-03-18T17:01:52.250-08:00

Heather: On the Da Vinci Code/Magdalene thing... I still haven't read the book, but I've given the plot some thought. I've got some questions for anyone that thinks it could really be true. In no particular order: 1. When did Jesus and Magdalene get married? Before or after he began his ministry? If after, why isn't it covered in the Gospels? If before, how could she have been the woman he

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1079656079610509132004-03-18T16:20:00.000-08:002004-03-18T17:19:21.013-08:00

Heather: Yeah, it's been a while. After that teaser of "watch this space," nothing for... three months? So here's a quick update. 1. Madeleine is virtually potty trained. She went today twice and told me after she'd gone. The second time, she actually brought it to me as I was on the phone in the kitchen (with Daddy, no less). How did this happen? The magic of nudity--or at least no pants.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1073275000805432522004-01-04T19:56:00.000-08:002004-03-19T16:25:47.436-08:00

Heather: Okay, here goes. This is the rough draft. I wrote a while back about how I wish there was a book on how Mary is the fulfillment of the first generation of feminists. Another chapter would be on how she fits the divine feminine, too. Brown and his adherents (hereafter referred to as "they") want Magdalen to be the "divine feminine". They claim that Christianity wiped it out and they're

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1073273257742362142004-01-04T19:27:00.000-08:002004-01-04T19:29:15.246-08:00

Heather: Over at Envoy, they've got a two-part review of The Da Vinci Code. I just read the first part--okay, skimmed it. I've got some thoughts about those proponents of the Code as gospel, catechism, or anything more than pulp fiction. These thoughts are percolating through. Because this is just a blog, I'm not sure how much I need to cite as sources and I don't really have the time to hunt

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1072843543747389092003-12-30T20:05:00.000-08:002003-12-30T20:22:47.123-08:00

Heather: As a cradle Catholic, Christmas Masses don't individually stand out in my mind. They all kind of blur together in a kaleidoscope of memories: incense, candles, poinsettias, carols, the Nativity set up. Yeah, I know. But those are the same every year, which can be both boring and reassuring at the same time. Usually I opt for reassuring. Of the two years in my living memory that I

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1072412218532646482003-12-25T20:16:00.000-08:002003-12-25T20:51:35.340-08:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! Dale: Decapitated chickens don't run around as much as we have the past four days. No, eventually, the future entree flops down and gets a rest. Heather and I hope to later this evening. If the kids let us. I now have a deep appreciation for the work my parents put into Christmas, given that we assumed the role of hosts for the family Christmas this

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1069795926372414152003-11-25T13:32:00.000-08:002003-12-02T19:24:14.106-08:00

Heather: On the Da Vinci Code... I've read the plot summary and a review or two, but no, I haven't read the book. I'm afraid someone will see it in my hands and breathe fire. I wonder, though, if it has one of those disclaimers. You know, the one that says the people and events are entirely fictitious and any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental. I'll bet a fair share of

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1069769780824804002003-11-25T06:16:00.000-08:002003-11-25T13:06:36.590-08:00

Heather: It seems lately, for the past few entries/months, I've been the one posting on this board. Dale has his forum, which I hesitate to call a locker room. He vents too much about the Church for that moniker. These two blogs seem to reflect what goes on in reality. He goes out daily and slays the corporate dragon, making the world equal for employees everywhere (okay, just in Michigan).

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1069298196889798642003-11-19T19:16:00.000-08:002003-11-19T19:17:12.966-08:00

Heather: Once upon a time, Dale had to pick me up from work. He stopped along the way and got Madeleine, too. Since we were running quite late that day, we decided to let someone else cook. We needed a sippy cup for Madeleine, so we stopped at the baby equipment emporium en route to the chosen restaurant. While we were at aforementioned emporium, Maddie fell in love with this little pull bear-

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1067341750105706752003-10-28T03:49:00.000-08:002003-10-28T03:49:16.106-08:00

Heather: The word of the day is "sensuous." As in, "since you was up..." My dad was something of an old-school Catholic. While I don't remember ever going to Mass for a holy day of obligation, we rarely missed a Sunday. My parents didn't seem to care much for the Saturday evening mass, what with breaking from a lazy Saturday, wearing jeans, and the guitar music. I remember most often going

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1067339675370424632003-10-28T03:14:00.000-08:002003-10-28T03:49:49.560-08:00

Heather: Whose idea was Daylight Savings, anyway? Like some other wacky ideas perpetuated all over, probably the French... Three days in and our kids are showing no signs of adjusting to Standard Time. Today it was both of them up before 6. As Dale has been getting up with them (at least Madeleine) regularly, I thought he deserved the rest.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1064632310222892532003-09-26T20:11:00.000-07:002003-10-13T19:30:20.293-07:00

Heather: Okay, now *I'm* going to weigh in on Mel's movie. I'm looking forward to it. I admit it. I'm reading biased sources, I admit that too. Keep that in mind as you read on. And my last caveat: I haven't read everything out there about it, nor am I an expert in Christian heritage, history, the Gospels, modern journalism, or just about anything except my two kids and maybe teaching a

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1064627502033257292003-09-26T18:51:00.000-07:002003-09-26T18:51:41.536-07:00

Heather: All of the guilt, none of the beauty. I'm writing on behalf of a friend--really. For those men with weak stomachs, it comes down to this question: Can you recommend a marriage manual for overcoming that old mentality of "Men enjoy it, women endure it?" Here's the guilt part: I was talking in the parking lot with a fellow member of our parish Moms' Club. We both have daughters and

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1064338187321274782003-09-23T10:23:00.000-07:002003-09-23T10:29:47.033-07:00

Even a sneeze can be a blessing. Dale: Yesterday morning, while sitting at the computer with my son, I sneezed. Loudly, and twice. Dale3 went into Momentary Startle Reflex Mode, then returned to staring intently at his waving fists. Maddie looked over at me and said: "Bess oo, dahdee." I was so stunned by that, I almost missed the next thing she did. She turned and said "I get tiss-oo."

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-106350498233105222003-09-13T19:03:00.000-07:002003-09-13T19:03:02.233-07:00

Heather: Truly exciting news. Maddie made peepee in the potty for the first time tonight. It went like this. She has, for two nights running, delayed bedtime by saying she has to peepee. "I peepee potty," she says. If I say no, as I'm in there with her rocking D3, she wails it. Daddy to the rescue! He takes her, undresses her, removes her dampened diaper, waits with her, all for naught.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1062642476083336492003-09-03T19:27:00.000-07:002003-09-03T19:27:56.040-07:00

Heather: These are the reasons it's been so quiet here. Why blog when you have them?

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1062621147107754482003-09-03T13:32:00.000-07:002003-09-03T13:41:01.540-07:00

Chirp, chirp, chirp. Dale: Sorry for the sound of crickets here over the past couple of months. By the by, thanks for continuing to come by here, the dogged 11 or so per day. No, this blog is not going to be shut down. But, speaking for Heather, it is difficult to chase two small children around and blog. As she says, something had to give, and it was a no-brainer. Look for updates more on

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1058544843929400462003-07-18T09:14:00.000-07:002003-07-18T09:24:36.880-07:00

"Bye bye, sweetheart." Dale: Not unusual words around the Price household. But they are unusual coming from Madeleine. Or at least they were.... As I was leaving to go to the store Monday, she piped up with that show-stopper. It's nice to know that imitating her mom brings out such pleasantries. Unfortunately, she also imitates her dad: "Back off, loser!" Clear as a bell. Really. It's a

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-1058124658393654852003-07-13T12:30:00.000-07:002003-07-13T12:31:30.676-07:00

Happy time almost over. Dale: The Detroit Prices are currently visiting my parents, who are being charmed by my toddler daughter and infant son. The girl's name is about to be officially changed to "Nonot," her new favorite phrase. This term is especially popular when we have to do something mandatory like give her a bath or stop her from repeatedly bludgeoning the dog with a blunt object.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-958131872003-06-18T19:52:00.000-07:002003-06-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Heather: When I need an angel, she grows wings. I've had an earache since this weekend. Yesterday my right ear started with this clear fluid discharge; I thought it would go away on its own. News flash: swimmer's ear does no such thing. Since it wasn't any better today, I called the doc. Yes, said the receptionist, that should get checked out. She could squeeze me in at 2 this afternoon. Nuts

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-955053602003-06-10T06:57:00.000-07:002003-06-11T20:06:19.000-07:00

Heather: I've done my good deed for the day. On my way in this morning, I saw a red minivan headed southbound in the median. The driver got out and it looked like an older lady with the fake orangey-brown hair. What did I do? I got out the cell phone and called it in. I was so proud of myself that I even knew it was south of 26 Mile Road. That's why you have a cell phone. Today is the last

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-954049522003-06-07T05:00:00.000-07:002003-06-07T05:35:25.000-07:00

Of Lawnmowers and Rednecks. Heather's still asleep. Both of the littlins are with me in the living room. Maddie's watching SpongeBob and the Little (?) Prince is in his swing, contemplating something. But that's not the reason for the header. This is: I think I will nickname the lawnmower "Herb." Which is short for "herbicide." Or perhaps Arnold. "It can't be bargained with. It can't be

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-953364192003-06-05T11:05:00.000-07:002003-06-05T11:05:23.540-07:00

Faster, Lawnmower! Kill! Kill! Dale: I now have a new one, a 6.5 hp Briggs & Stratton-powered Craftsman from Sears. It was on sale, and coincidentally my 17 year old lawnmower went bye-bye last week. Actually, the engine still runs and the blade still cuts. The problem is that the lower handle has disintegrated via metal fatigue. Replacement handle? Sure. Except that the manufacturer

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-953259332003-06-05T06:35:00.000-07:002003-06-05T06:35:01.600-07:00

Heather: Good news on a couple fronts. There's this one, near and dear to my heart as a mother. Then there's this one, near and dear to my heart as a peacenik and Christian. Both appeal to me as a human being. I don't think either of these will be easy to push through, maintain, enforce or enact. They're small steps in the right direction and require others to make the right decisions...

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-952947622003-06-04T11:35:00.000-07:002003-06-04T11:35:55.913-07:00

Heather: Testing, testing... Dale and I have noticed that Blogger "reads" the entries in order to select the advertising at the top of the page. This is just a list of non-sequiturs and unrelated topics to see what it gloms onto. I'm also curious to see what happens in the comments... The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Medela makes excellent pumps. Spaghetti-O's with franks are

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-951730822003-06-01T19:20:00.000-07:002003-06-01T19:20:48.000-07:00

Heather: On a happy note: Happy birthday, Dale! On a rotten note: I have to go back to work. For seven stinking days. It has to do with legalistic minutiae of FMLA and if I don't go back they can come after me for insurance premiums, which are more than our mortgage. That should tell you two things right there: one, health care costs are obscene and two, our house is not exactly what one

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-947633082003-05-22T18:13:00.000-07:002003-05-22T18:13:23.943-07:00

"You're pretty cool, Beavis." Dale: My wife found a butt-shaped pear (no, really) at Meijer's last week. It went into my lunch today, and she was delighted about it. I think she's trying to tell me something. It's that, or my sense of humor has at long last rubbed off on her. Either way, not a good sign.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-947002862003-05-21T12:40:00.000-07:002003-05-21T12:40:44.683-07:00

Heather: I rewatched the season finale of ER this afternoon. Some of you readers don't have TV's let alone watch ER, so I'll sum it up. Dr. John Carter goes to Africa as a volunteer through an organization similar to Medecins Sans Frontières. He then deals with things like kids infected with polio, pertussis, and a host of other preventable maladies. One young boy is going to die of whooping

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-946633622003-05-20T19:12:00.000-07:002003-05-20T19:14:32.000-07:00

Heather: This is so true: Princeton You're smart, you're thin, you're pretty, anddammit, people love you. You are destined forgreat, great things, little Princetonian. Letthere be a never-ending stream of Country-Club-Like institutions in your unmarred future. Which Ivy League University is right for YOU? brought to you by Quizilla

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-945331922003-05-18T05:19:00.000-07:002003-05-18T06:13:09.000-07:00

Slightly scary. Dale: Little Dale has been having an increasing number of crying fits lately. They have been occurring at various times of the day (with the blessed exception of nighttime), and almost always last 10 minutes plus. Nothing works except time. We've tried gas relief drops, feeding him, adjusting his position, putting him in the swing/bouncy seat/crib/etc., but none of these

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-945330412003-05-18T05:11:00.000-07:002003-05-18T05:11:50.150-07:00

No. 1 Sign Your Child Is Watching Too Much "SpongeBob." Dale: She can identify the minor characters by name. Yesterday morning, as Nick was running its hour of SBSP, she exclaimed "Barra Boy!" That would be "Barnacle Boy," sidekick to "Mermaidman." OTOH, it appears her infatuation with SBSP is dwindling slightly. "Dora the Explorer" holds her attention for much longer now. We have running

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-944683842003-05-16T13:27:00.000-07:002003-05-16T13:44:37.000-07:00

Heather: Every night, on his way to bed himself, my dad would come in each of us kids' rooms and give us a good-night kiss. I rarely woke for this, but I know it happened. Even when my sister moved her room downstairs he would shuffle through the darkened basement for that gesture of parental affection. I've tried to perpetuate that tradition. Our two children share the other bedroom in our

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-942385912003-05-12T18:47:00.000-07:002003-05-13T05:24:31.000-07:00

An Excerpt from The Journals of Dale R. Price III. From Volume I: The Diaper Years. Day 77: Well, I'm beginning to get my feet under me--metaphorically speaking. Realistically, I can't see my feet, much less put them under me. But more about that later. This will be a lengthy entry, because I'm finally beginning to form an assessment of my surroundings. I'm beginning to understand how

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-942143362003-05-12T10:38:00.000-07:002003-05-12T18:31:09.000-07:00

Maddie, the "Grip 'n' Grin," Counting, etc. Dale: Despite her baptism, Madeleine has not acquired a full appreciation of all aspects of the Mass. Over the past two months, I have spent plenty of time out in our church's foyer (the de facto cry room) while she stomps about. I have to generally escort her out 1 or 2 times per Mass. She simply wants to run around the church in fifth gear,

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-941467642003-05-11T06:15:00.000-07:002003-05-11T06:15:32.220-07:00

Attempting to update Das Blog. Dale: I'm cleaning up the links, adding a couple (no deletions) and shortening the descriptors. In addition, I'm trying to add comment software (Klink Family). It's an extra "gift" for Mother's Day for Heather (hey, it was her idea!), too. So far, no good. Plus, it seems to be changing the "read" of the template in a way I don't care for. Anyway, I'll keep

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-939657312003-05-07T19:46:00.000-07:002003-05-07T19:46:58.953-07:00

Heather: Wow, three entries in two days! Overwhelming! Can you guess how the kids have been sleeping? Last night he was down around 9, and we didn't hear a peep from him until 4:45. Then he just wanted to nurse for about 10 minutes and I was back in bed. Maddie, however, came in to join us around 1:15. She then slept until 7:30 or so, though. Today she spent at her aunt's, visiting the girls

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-939043552003-05-06T20:19:00.000-07:002003-05-06T20:19:50.086-07:00

Heather: Dale's got a blog about our daughter and the Church--at least this past Sunday morning--percolating. He wants to give it the composition time it deserves, but I'm telling you to watch this space. A reminder of how he feels about his little girl: He went out Sunday afternoon to get knockaround shoes for himself, while both kids were asleep. That way my job is easier, though I'm home

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-939028652003-05-06T19:52:00.000-07:002003-05-17T06:02:36.000-07:00

Sagging Floors, Massive Infants--Is There a Connection? Dale: It's been approximately forever since I've blogged here. Sorry 'bout that. Been busy. First, there's the house, which is threatening to cost me more money. The first problem was electrical. When we bought Stately Price Manor, the seller filled out a disclosure statement indicating that the electrical system was A-OK. T'wasn't

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-929023172003-04-19T13:38:00.000-07:002003-04-19T13:38:49.436-07:00

Heather: What does sibling rivalry look like when it involves a newborn/infant and a toddler? I don't think I'm seeing it. Maddie tries to share her Cheerios and sippy with her little brother, who is indifferent to these actions. She actually climbs over him--putting none of her weight on him, if you can believe it--when he's in his bouncy chair. And as much as he is able to focus on anything

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-920548162003-04-05T12:34:00.000-08:002003-04-05T12:34:54.466-08:00

Heather: Please excuse the delay. As Dale said, the kids are not following their parents' sleep schedule. Well, Madeleine seems to be figuring it out--two nights in a row now she's slept from roughly 9 until 6 the next morning with minimal interruption. She even came in to our room the first time, waking us with a perky, "Hi, Dahee." She (and I) have also discovered the beauty of crayons. At

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-913203262003-03-24T19:06:00.000-08:002003-03-24T19:06:54.793-08:00

Heather: Nickel perceptions on the war. This is just my opinion, so take it for the brass pennies it's worth. It seems to me that Saddam's biggest defenders never had to live under his rule, like the anti-war activists here in the U.S. and Muslims from other countries (Egypt, Palestinian areas, Jordan, etc.). His biggest detractors, those who most want him eating daisies by the roots, are

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-907153562003-03-14T08:13:00.000-08:002003-03-14T08:13:27.903-08:00

Heather: Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Get to know me and find something in particular, like my son is not quite 3 weeks old and I'm wearing pre-pregnancy pants. Not Tweeners, as Dale called them--those for when you're too big for your old pants but not ready for maternity. Nope. These today are truly from non-pregnant times. Yeah, they were always a little loose and I did have to suck

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-905859462003-03-12T05:58:00.000-08:002003-03-15T05:17:10.000-08:00

Heather: Some thoughts on Jews, Catholics, and whom Jesus died for. I was asked by a student the year I taught at a Catholic high school, "Didn't the Jews kill Jesus?" I was utterly ignorant of the Vatican's stand on the issue and had just my own knee-jerk reply. "Of course not," with no small amount of scorn. I still maintain that. My dad, when asked a tough question, used to tell me, "I can

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-905477912003-03-11T14:34:00.000-08:002007-06-06T12:25:58.582-07:00

OK: Now Rod Dreher's gone too far.He's doing the unthinkable: He's defending the French.Ack.Just kidding. Rod makes many good points, and reminded me of my own experience with the French in 1989, which explains why I haven't jumped in the general piranha feeding frenzy of French-bashing. Well, OK, for the most part I haven't joined in. Hey, I've gone cold turkey for four months. Plus, my

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-903344292003-03-07T18:17:00.000-08:002003-03-07T18:17:54.733-08:00

Heather: I almost went to work that morning. Seriously. If you have to ask which morning, you haven't been paying attention. Sure, the cramps (ha, ha) woke me up along about 2:30, and kept happening so I couldn't really get back to sleep. I finally gave up at 5:30 when Maddie and Dale got up (her decision, not his). I really didn't want to go in for false labor AGAIN, I had grades to put in

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-903058152003-03-07T07:59:00.000-08:002003-03-07T08:00:13.000-08:00

Look at what we did! For pictures of the newest Price, go here. They aren't posted for long, so I suggest you look sooner rather than later.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-903053302003-03-07T07:50:00.000-08:002003-03-07T07:57:18.000-08:00

Brief Update. Dale: Mommy and baby came home on February 26. Thank God for Mom, who came down to help out all week. Maddie loves her, and calls her "Neemie," which delights Mom to no end. She kept the house running during the transition to a "children" household. Thanks, Mom! As far as my boy goes, he is much different from his sister--quieter, more laid back. I got the sense of this from

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-896832002003-02-24T18:26:00.000-08:002003-02-24T18:26:21.670-08:00

Big Announcement. Dale: Heather gave birth to our second child and first son, Dale III, today at 1:00pm on the nose. Our son was 8 lbs., 11 oz., and 20 inches long, technically making him a barrel. Labor was (from my perspective, FWIW) fairly brief, and there were no complications. Mother and son are both doing well. I am at home with Maddie, who doesn't seem to realize that the "bay-bee" is

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-891862842003-02-16T06:32:00.000-08:002003-02-16T06:43:57.000-08:00

Part III: Blue Monday. We found a Ram's Horn restaurant, and settled into our booth. For non-Detroiters, Ram's Horn is a solid restaurant chain akin to a "Big Boy," but, on average, better. Early Monday is apparently a good time at this particular outlet. You get your pick of the potential seating arrangements. "Coffee?" "Yes." Does it come in an IV? Breakfast was good (omelette for me

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-891853252003-02-16T05:57:00.000-08:002003-02-18T14:18:36.000-08:00

Part II: I Don't Like Mondays. We parked in the Emergency Entrance parking lot. It still seemed like an interminable walk to the entrance. This was not helped by the fact I was laden like a Sherpa at an Everest base camp. We checked in. "What's the problem?" "Labor." "I'll get the wheelchair." We were checked in quickly, with a cheery and perfunctory verification of the address and

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-891839532003-02-16T05:01:00.000-08:002003-02-18T14:13:17.000-08:00

Part I: Monday, Monday. Dale: Our Monday was much more exciting than yours--I'm willing to bet substantial cash on this proposition. First of all, it started earlier: around 2:15 am, with a coughing toddler. Maddie had been suffering from a running nose and occasional coughing since Saturday. On Sunday, when I spoke to my mom, she warned: "She could have another ear infection." I said,

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-890990272003-02-14T08:53:00.000-08:002003-02-15T19:25:58.000-08:00

Heather: Some thanks are in order. I've heard from two servicemen regarding my post, "About this war thing..." Mark Jacobsen, USAF and Joe Grabowski, USANG--thank you both for your kind words. Mark, I've wondered if anyone cares about our daughter's diet or the goings-on in a middle school classroom; thank you also for the reassurance that this aspect of our blog is what you find most interesting

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-886563112003-02-06T09:17:00.000-08:002003-02-06T09:17:31.790-08:00

Heather: About this war thing... I'm relieved that I'm not the only Catholic with ambivalent feelings about the situation with Iraq. I heard on the radio that France (via Chirac, I think) that war should be a last resort. In the parlance of my students: Well, DUH. I wasn't able to see Colin Powell's presentation to the UN yesterday, or even listen to it. I've been able to read transcripts from

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-882124342003-01-29T08:46:00.000-08:002003-01-29T08:46:14.770-08:00

Heather: I think we felt a foot last night. We haven't been able to distinguish any kind of body part from the imminent one, and all of it was a mystery with Maddie. Last night as Dale was "sliming my gut" (applying cocoa butter to reduce the occurrence of stretch marks) and he saw my belly almost erupt. Then there was a bump that didn't move for perhaps 10 or 15 seconds--long enough for me to

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-880287182003-01-25T18:25:00.000-08:002003-01-25T19:15:32.000-08:00

Easy Like Saturday Evening. Dale: Well, at least the Christmas decorations are down. Yes, I know: Finally. Maddie was up at around 6:30am, and insisted on watching "Bob." As in SpongeBob Squarepants. I popped the DVD in, and we watched a few episodes. She loves it, and will only briefly tolerate substitutes. That's OK with me, as "Bob" is light-years ahead of "Bah-ee," or Barney ("Dah-ee

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-878462692003-01-22T08:21:00.000-08:002003-01-22T08:21:05.686-08:00

Heather: Toddler Diet Story. Regular readers know Maddie is the "opposite of lactose intolerant." She will tolerate water, but much prefers milk. She can look at her sippy and decide whether she really wants it or not, and has politely handed me back one with water and said, "Mik. Bees." [Translated: Milk, please.] However, she did something last night that I think would cause lots of parents

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-876366472003-01-18T05:19:00.000-08:002003-01-25T19:14:25.000-08:00

Passing the Faith on to a 16 month old. Dale: It isn't easy, but progress has been made. Last year, after concluding business in Bay City, I stumbled across "Regina Caeli," a fine Catholic bookstore. Surprisingly orthodox (see Saginaw, Diocese of), it carries none of the works of Joan Chittister or anything about the idiotic New Age ennegram. As an aside, I think any Catholic who has

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-876360222003-01-18T04:47:00.000-08:002003-01-18T04:47:00.213-08:00

I've seen this face! The funniest description of child distaste I've ever read: "[T]he last time I fed Gnat that stuff she made a face that resembled Winston Churchill attempting to pass a cricket bat sideways through his urethra." From The Master, James Lileks, of course.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-872464652003-01-10T18:36:00.000-08:002003-01-10T18:36:24.860-08:00

Heather: Recently, two magazines to which I subscribe both had articles about the issue of abortion. Perhaps they were both inspired by Roe v. Wade this month so it's not a coincidence, but I don't recall the precise details. I was disturbed by the assumption by the editorial staff, the writer, publisher, whomever had control of these publications that their readership was entirely pro-abortion.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-871775642003-01-09T11:12:00.000-08:002003-01-09T11:20:58.000-08:00

"Baddy." Dale: This is the nickname I've given myself whenever I do something that Madeleine does not like. Such as relieving her of the covertly-acquired stapler or remote control, or taking away the dog-slobbered cracker she wants to eat, or removing the unindentifiable lint/dirt clod/cat food/dog food/Cthuloid Horror from her mouth before she swallows it. Well, last night I became Super

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-871764362003-01-09T10:46:00.000-08:002003-01-09T10:46:14.066-08:00

What's the Secret, Guys? Dale: Pack her lunch, and include a frosted chocolate brownie. Works like a charm.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-870644452003-01-07T08:15:00.000-08:002003-01-07T08:15:06.776-08:00

Heather: In Praise of My Husband. Dale doesn't know this is coming, so I hope it's a nice surprise. Around Thanksgiving, we met a couple friends of his (and one's new wife) at a local bar. We hadn't seen the newlywed since our own wedding just over 3 years before, and never met the bride. Most of you know what socializing is with a toddler: nonexistent. Since they were more his friends than

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-869885872003-01-05T19:40:00.000-08:002003-01-05T19:40:43.053-08:00

Maddie News. OR Parents Bragging About Their Brilliant Child. "How refreshing," says the reader. "Suffer," says the blogging father. Actually, I can sympathize--having seen other parents brag about their kids, I know it's sometimes bunk: Crazed, sleep-deprived, doting parent: "Did you hear that? Theodora said 'Mendelssohn!' She's going to be a musical prodigy!" Me: "Yeah, that was great!

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-867713522002-12-31T18:55:00.000-08:002003-01-02T07:06:18.000-08:00

Christmas and New Year Update. Dale: Well, for those of you who have read the blog for the past year, a hearty thanks for your comments, prayers and good wishes. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep this up as Price Baby #2 winds his way toward birth. Albeit at a more sprightly pace than that seen over the past two weeks... The hiatus was caused, of course, by Christmas and the preparations for

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-861195832002-12-16T09:53:00.000-08:002002-12-16T09:53:37.150-08:00

Happy Birthday, Mom! Dale: She reliably informs me that she turned 29 today. Again. Technically, this makes me older than Mom, but no matter. Remarkable, that. After all, saying otherwise will get me killed and/or my Christmas gifts returned.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-861194472002-12-16T09:50:00.000-08:002002-12-16T09:50:19.973-08:00

Obstatrics, Continued. Dale: Ditto what Heather said. Next, as far as the problem with directly linking to this blog: take it up with Blogger. It's not like we programmed this monster. On second thought, don't bother. I've tried.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-861193282002-12-16T09:47:00.000-08:002002-12-16T09:47:14.783-08:00

New Parent Lesson No. 3,342 Dale: "Beware toddlers handing over unidentified items immediately after being asked." Maddie gave me a nice squishy cat turd yesterday morning. There was no trace of regret on her smiling face.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-859507502002-12-13T08:29:00.000-08:002002-12-13T08:29:58.186-08:00

Heather: I'm going to be calm about this and explain it slowly. Please be patient. I am not a computer genius or even much of a novice. I can type well and sort of navigate the 'Net. I rely pretty much completely on my dear sweet husband to create the links from this blog to whatever site I mention--whether a book to purchase at Amazon, recent photo proofs of our family, whatever. He's shown

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-858980002002-12-12T07:59:00.000-08:002002-12-12T07:59:53.436-08:00

Heather: I know a purchase we're making this weekend! Some of you readers are parents, so please tell me if this means what I think it means. Madeleine has been saying various words for quite a while. I made a list a while back and it was over two dozen, so that was impressive. Her most recent have been "stah" (star--yes, she knows it's on the top of the tree) and "poop." That she would say

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-854878322002-12-04T08:33:00.000-08:002002-12-04T08:33:30.416-08:00

Heather: I've been doing some thinking about the whole abortion issue. The Democratic party has it as a plank in its platform; it is said that its importance is that of a sacrament. I kind of think that blasphemes the whole idea of sacraments, but I get the gist. As I've said before, it has become the litmus test for feminism, too. Both of these circumstances make me quite sad. I agree with

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-854325582002-12-03T08:41:00.000-08:002002-12-03T08:41:24.790-08:00

Heather: More signs of hope for the future. We got hit with a snowstorm yesterday--about 6 inches. Not a tremendous amount, but for the winter's first snowfall it was a lot. The roads were a mess both to and from work; the sidestreets are still treacherous. It started early and didn't quit until almost dinnertime. Where the hope for the future kicks in is here: around 5:30, while Dale was

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-851421242002-11-26T19:17:00.000-08:002002-11-26T19:17:07.166-08:00

Heather: Another blog about feminism, Catholicism, and womanhood. I was Catholic before I was a feminist, but I hold both of those identities closely. I have been plagued by apparent conflicts between the two and have had difficulty resolving them. One of many issue that seems to conflict is the two ideologies' respective stands on abortion. The litmus test for feminism has become one's stand

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-850521032002-11-25T05:15:00.000-08:002002-11-25T05:15:48.663-08:00

Heather: I don't know which bothers me more, when she's upset or when she's not. Usually, Dale drops her off at her aunt Misty's house for the day. I believe it's no less painful for him to say good-bye there than it is for me, but he spares me the anguish each morning. Except on rare occasions, like when he's hunting or has to be somewhere two hours away by 8 AM. Like today. So, I get the

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-848828392002-11-21T11:20:00.000-08:002002-11-21T11:20:59.106-08:00

Heather: My 8th grade French class is taking a test right now. I overheard this conversation as I was passing them out. "Joe, were you just praying?" said Scott. "Yes, I was," said Joe defensively. It must have been a quick one as I hadn't noticed. I interjected, "I saw a bumper sticker once that said, 'As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.'" Joe smiled at that. I did

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-847137022002-11-18T09:13:00.000-08:002002-11-18T09:13:46.523-08:00

Heather: I get all kinds of things running around in my head to blog when I'm driving, but it goes *poof* when I have the time to sit down. At least it keeps me from too many tangential threads. I've started saying a rosary every morning on my way in to work. It started last month (coincidentally, the Month of the Rosary) with all of the Washington sniper coverage. I feel for those folks living

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-843925942002-11-11T17:42:00.000-08:002002-11-11T17:50:43.000-08:00

Heather: Score one for Daddy. As our regular readership knows, Maddie was diagnosed with an ear infection on Halloween. At about 3 AM. We were dutifully administering her amoxicillin, twice daily as prescribed. She HATES it. Last week Misty emailed me to let me know Maddie's temp was up to 101.7, she'd given her some of the stuff we had in the diaper bag, and I might want to get there as

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-842775742002-11-09T07:01:00.000-08:002002-11-09T07:01:03.793-08:00

Dale: Last night was peaceful. Neither of us felt like cooking, so I went to the local pizzeria/other food place and picked up their cod dinner for two. We still have plenty of fish for today, too. I also rented two DVDs: "A Beautiful Mind" and "The Tao of Steve." I've been avoiding the first because of the factual controversy surrounding the adaptation, but figured it was probably worth

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-840657962002-11-05T08:30:00.000-08:002002-11-05T08:30:46.636-08:00

Heather: This is kind of a personal edition, here, and I'm looking for advice. Regular readers know that for a number of years I had a nodding acquaintance with my faith. I knew the Church's stand on things (abortion, contraception, etc.) but didn't really live by it. I was considering finding another faith there for a while though I didn't know where, really, to go. I suppose this lack of

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-839564412002-11-03T05:49:00.000-08:002002-11-03T05:53:03.000-08:00

"I think we're gonna need a bigger boat." Dale: Repeat after me: a one hundred...pound...carp. That's a whole lotta bottom feeder... Please note that this is from the Detroit News, a non-tabloid paper. "Mammoth species...leaps out of water, smacks boaters."

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-839409662002-11-02T18:39:00.000-08:002002-11-02T18:41:22.000-08:00

Great football weekend here! Dale: No matter what my Lions do. First, there's Bwa-hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! The Spartans could have had another month added to the clock this year and it wouldn't have helped. Exactly what I was hoping for from U of M: not merely a victory, but the Wolverines playing jumprope with Sparty's entrails. [Ed.: Ewwwww!] My dad and I haven't been this

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-839404402002-11-02T18:21:00.000-08:002002-11-02T18:21:54.730-08:00

Dale: Never, ever, feed a toddler prunes.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-838268112002-10-31T07:19:00.000-08:002002-10-31T08:18:32.000-08:00

Who needs sleep? Never gonna get it. Dale: Who needs sleep? What's that for? Long time, no post here. See my "shiny happy people" side over at this location. Be advised I'm doing this on three or so hours of nonconsecutive sleep. Maddie was disconsolate last evening. She went down after her bath, but woke up. I marched manfully into her room, and was quickly overmatched by the

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-836022222002-10-27T11:14:00.000-08:002002-10-27T11:14:58.343-08:00

Heather: You know what this world needs? A good feminist-Catholic treatise on Mary. Seriously. I'd even sort of compromise and say Christian, so as to include Luther, Calvin, and Wesley's opinions on her, but I don't think the general Protestant population gives much thought to that lady in the stable. That's my impression, anyway. That thought has been brewing for a while. A couple friends

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-833015952002-10-21T08:48:00.000-07:002002-10-21T08:49:17.000-07:00

Dale: No. Really. I just got two pecks on the cheek from a disheveled, stubble-faced stranger with a heavy accent. Me and my beguiling charisma. So, how's your day going?

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-832992372002-10-21T07:55:00.000-07:002002-10-21T07:55:58.003-07:00

Heather: Be nice to Dale today. He had four days in a row of hanging out with Maddie and had to go back to work today. There she was, rolled over on her stomach but nestled next to him, when I came back in to get dressed. She was OUT, too. He was cuddling her and stayed while I got dressed and then while I got my cereal. It seemed painful for him to get out of bed from his cuddle time. I

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-832750032002-10-20T19:06:00.000-07:002002-10-20T19:06:14.376-07:00

Heather: Yes, it's a boy. I can believe it as I was part of the (incorrect) majority last time. It was that dream about caring for a circumcision that pushed me over the edge. Now I'm just willing to believe the technician. I had a point to this. We'll have a girl and a boy; there are those that would say, "Why have any more? One of each is enough." One of my students expressed this when I

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-832484732002-10-20T05:38:00.000-07:002002-10-20T05:38:35.736-07:00

Dale: It's a boy! And I was sure it was a girl. According to Dr. Ultrasound, our next child is a son, and he's still due on March 9, 2003. Thanks be to God. I still haven't gotten my head around it yet.

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-831707432002-10-18T07:57:00.000-07:002002-10-18T12:38:30.000-07:00

Heather: A little housekeeping is in order. 1. I didn't ask Dale to start his own blog to vent his politics. But I appreciate it. We had discussed it before, but this is supposed to be about things that are important enough to us to share with the rest of the world. His political viewpoints and opinions are important to him--that's what I came to grips with. I blog about nursing and that kind

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-830609982002-10-16T07:01:00.000-07:002002-10-16T10:18:12.000-07:00

Dale: No More Playing Hockey in the House. In the interests of maintaining a balance in this blog, which is generally supposed to be more home and family commentary, I've decided to create a new blog. You can still send love letters to the old e-mail address. I'll still post here, but it won't be material that looks like Bill O'Reilly with rabies. IOW, the end of the Norway saga will be

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-830253272002-10-15T11:45:00.000-07:002002-10-15T11:51:42.000-07:00

Dale: Winding Down the Norway Thing, for Bjorn and Matthew. Part I I have to finish this up, before Heather kills me. First, thanks to Matthew and Bjorn for their fair-minded replies. Especially for recognizing the exaggeration in the first post. Not everybody picked up on that. Second, I need to relate a couple of stories to give you a little perspective on where I came from on this. The

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-829751232002-10-14T11:46:00.000-07:002002-10-14T11:46:55.786-07:00

Dale: "All Norway, All The Time!" A respectful, thoughtful rebuttal by Matthew Wagner. "Blogging: Where Equal Time Is a Reality." "I encountered your blog the other day via a link from Instapundit, and I'm afraid I must take issue with a few of your central points. In brief, I agree with your assessment of this last Nobel Peace prize...but please don't take out your aggressions on the

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-829621912002-10-14T06:11:00.000-07:002002-10-14T06:21:47.000-07:00

Dale: Our Second-Ever Installment of Reader Mail. Organized by Topic: A. Norway/Norwegians. 1. I stand corrected. "Humbly beggin' yer pardon sir, but I think the simile "folded up like a cheap suit" is slightly off. I believe it is either 'folded like a bad hand' or 'unraveled like a cheap suit', though in any case, it does describe a country that makes France look like it really

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-829370432002-10-13T16:10:00.000-07:002002-10-13T16:10:07.526-07:00

Dale: "Am I Serious?" Speak of the devil, Bjorn Staerk's responded to my Norway spleen-venting. First, his historical challenges. The point about the Norwegian Navy is well-taken, but this is a distinctly different issue than the volunteer question. If there's a problem with the volunteer figures, that's the Nuav website's calculations, not mine. It seems like a reasonably well-done website

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-829264962002-10-13T10:43:00.000-07:002002-10-13T11:59:05.000-07:00

Dale: Welcome Mark Shea, Corner and Instapundit Readers! Well! Certainly wasn't expecting the comparative flood of mail we've gotten on recent topics, so bear with us. While you're here, if you can drop me a line on how to fix the template and archives, I'd be grateful. Norway-related e-mail total: 3 to 1 in favor of anti-Norway commentary. Although one of the "anti" writers was of

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-828518342002-10-11T11:18:00.000-07:002002-10-11T11:24:04.000-07:00

Dale: Jimmy Carter, the first (and only) American President ever to be attacked by a swimming rabbit, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today. The former President's foreign policy ineptitude, both in and out of the White House, has been well-documented by others, so I'm not going to dwell on that. Actually, I don't think President Carter and his administration get enough credit for their

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-828466012002-10-11T09:11:00.000-07:002002-10-11T20:07:25.000-07:00

Heather: I don't have any deep and profound thoughts, really, so this is going to be kind of Larry King-ish in style. I just read about the mom who emailed Bush, requesting he send her surviving Marine son home from Okinawa. His twin brother was killed in Kuwait this week. I think not only should he be sent home, he should have a limo ride for the trip if not a chopper to place him safely on

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-826875292002-10-08T06:48:00.000-07:002002-10-08T11:17:05.000-07:00

Dale: If Richard Dawkins was any dumber, you'd have to water him. This is dumber than a box of hair. [Thanks to Doug Sirman for that turn of phrase]. No, really. If Dawkins applied the same intellectual rigor to the study of science that he does to religion, he'd be a phrenologist. Or he'd be waxing flatulent about the glories of phlogiston or alchemy. Or he'd be touting whatever two-bit

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-826415642002-10-07T09:09:00.000-07:002002-10-07T10:31:33.000-07:00

Heather: Lunch blog for me. Dale can reach links, so maybe this evening he'll link up to the story. Here goes: there's been yet another shooting in the Washington area. This time, a 13-year-old boy being dropped off at school was the victim. Last I saw, he was critical, so maybe this one will be different from those others. Too soon to know if it was the same gun as the others. I admit a

DPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3619008.post-826354032002-10-07T06:35:00.000-07:002002-10-07T06:35:10.316-07:00

Dale: Lepanto and Afghanistan: "Don Juan of Austria has loosed the cannonade!" Two dates in history, and I believe they are related. One year ago, our nation began to strike back against Al Qaeda and its national sponsor, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Four hundred and thirty one years ago, a combined Spanish-Venetian fleet inflicted a crushing defeat on the Ottoman Turks--the first

DPnoreply@blogger.com