The boy got a new noise-making toy the other day and it just gives him fits.
Fits of laughter. The embedded video below last only a few minutes…but it went on much longer. I was getting tired before he did. I hope it brings you a smile. (Of course…it’s not like the Internet needs another video of a laughing baby.)
Okay…today it is my three year anniversary at my current employer. Well…the company I now work for split off of the company I was hired to in 2003 but for accounting purposes, it’s the same company. I know that doesn’t seem like a long time; and it’s not. But considering that time is longer than the time I spent with my previous company it seems like longer. I’m happy with my work, coworkers and opportunities. Oddly, I was off today, not to celebrate but to simply enjoy a surfeit of vacation days.
I didn’t want to return to Little Rock. That is not a secret. It’s not my favorite place. But it does have family and good friends. Of course we moved to start a family. Not quite in the manner in which it happened…but I’m so happy with how it did. We have a great son, home, and dog.
I do want to return to Fayetteville. It fills my adult definition of home. Unlike Syracuse (which will shock those who know me) which defines the home of my adolescence. My recent return trip was wholly underwhelming..though my traveling companion and the wedding were great.
Of course, moving back to F’ville isn’t in the cards right now. Too many benefits in the form of grandparent proximity to make a leap to a new town. Moving is a fear downstream since I am technically a remote employee now that my team and primary office are in another state. Long term success and growth with this company are going to force some hard decisions. But not today.
I’m going to play with the dude. He’s back from school and needs some dad time.
So…the best thing about three years…the little man. It all comes back to him now. 
Listening to a live version of “Add It Up”. So good and so angry. I used to think it was timeless but I’m thinking not that it sounds very dated. Certainly not a song you would hear on classic rock, lite rock, 80′s pop, rap, urban, dance. You might get it on some college stations or an indy-retro channel but it’s just not what people are listening to now. And for that matter, what happened to the Violent Femmes? They were a group I hadn’t even heard of until college and the work that people listened to (then and now) was from 1983. They, like most bands, never broke into the mainstream and remained a cult band. Which, I guess means, marginally successful?
I’ve been told that for the most part your musical tastes tend to freeze at a certain point. Priorities shift. You’re married, have kids, fewer dollars to devote to entertainment. It’s more of an effort to test new singers.
I hear The Cure has a new album out. Great. Who’s listening to it? Who’s playing it on the radio? Who is their target audience now? Goth mommies? What’s their legacy and lasting contribution to rock? Pinnacle of Goth? That said, I do like The Cure but, much like the Violent Femmes, I have a couple albums that mark a specific time/place but their other work never really hooked me. I just don’t see me rushing out to get their new stuff. Same goes for the recent AC/DC release that was exclusive to Wal-Mart. Can you believe that? AC/DC in bed with Wal-Mart. Odd considering I remember some of my more religious friends thinking that was akin to devil-music. And you know how sheepish Wal-Mart is about engaging in anything close to controversy. Amazing how bands soften with age and a desire to sell lots of units.
I’m hoping I can be open to the weird music Bex will certainly enjoy and that I can provide some historical context in the variety of pop, blues, reggae, jazz, and classical his dad will (already is) make him listen to. Variety is important…I just need to be more willing to try the new stuff.
(Okay…a year +1)
12/02/2008: The weather was so nice; an ideal time to hit the park.
Today…not so much. Cold and windy; but it was a good evening spent with friends. Still…I remember last year in the park like it was yesterday. I hope I can hold it in my head and heart. The pictures help keep the memory alive.
Here’s a sample:
Soccer Men
He’s so different now. It’s amazing.
Jess and I finally bought a reusable Advent calendar. This will hopefully be a marked improvement over the disposable, flavorless versions we’ve purchased in the past. She’s filling gifts for the odd days and I’m filling the even. The Bex and I shared some chocolate snowmen this evening. By shared, I mean he ate the chocolate and I watched. I was not going to deny him. Especially after he made some valiant attempts to say “chocolate” and repeatedly saying, “More! More!”
I hope Jess enjoys the treats I’ve left in the even days. I actually put at least a little thought to it.
