Blue Moon

We had a successful outing today. We really don't get out much, it's such a major undertaking to get out the door. Dress the baby, dress myself, pack a diaper bag--these things are hard to accomplish with a baby who doesn't want to be set down for longer than 2 minutes at a stretch. He also likes to cluster feed in the mornings, so I have .5-1.5 hours between feedings, and if its a pumping day, forget it. However, I need to get out of the house for my own sanity, and Jackson just noticed the TV. I set him down on a blanket Monday and came back to find him watching the Sopranos, right as someone was getting whacked. Horribly violent images to be filling his little impressionable mind. So we're going for his sanity as well.

Today, we set out to see "The Surrealist Masters" at the WhiteSpace Gallery in New Haven, on display through June 2nd. I wanted to leave no later than 2, but for reasons mentioned previously, it was 4 before I was ready to go. New Haven is over an hour away, and I considered postponing due to the lateness, but who am I kidding, another day will have the same delays. So we went.

Turns out we could've gone anytime, its a dealer's gallery, not a museum. We'd pretty much missed the advertised show since the Picasso's had already sold, and there were only a couple Chagall's and Miro's remaining. However, they have a fairly extensive permanent collection of Dali's. They came to own the collection (several copies of each piece) through a complicated route, but they've been authenticated, and are available at a very reasonable price point. Signed and numbered lithographs, 3 foot framed pieces, for under $5K. Forget 529 plans, what could be a better tool for investing Jackson's college mone? Bonus--they have lay away! Oh, but I digress. We had a lovely time at the gallery and a nice chat with the resident artist, Denise Parri. Jackson was kind enough to sleep through this, but I was pushing his limits of time without food.

Since we were already at the coast, we headed East to look for a nice place to feed him, maybe a deserted park or something. I exited the highway in Guillford, and saw a lovely park, but it was pretty active, so I kept driving. I followed the signed for the public access to the Sound. Finding public shore access is difficult, so don't ever pass up the opportunity. The road ended at a simple parking lot with a boat ramp, and a magnificent view of the sea. We pulled up, and I fed Jackson in the car looking out at the Thimble Islands, and the lighthouse at Faulkner's Island. Then we took a little walk around the parking lot, which was becoming more popular as the evening progressed. The sun setting to the right, and the blue moon rising over the island trees to the right. Unfortunately, I didn't get a visual document of this. I saw the camera on the way out, but didn't take it, assuming photos would not be welcome at the gallery. if you're thinking of moving to the shore, consider Guillford, it had a nice atmosphere, and apparently the whole town heads out for an evening walk around sunset.

Then we headed further East for a dinner of the greatest food available in the Northeast. I acknowledge the pleasures of boiled maple syrup, blueberries, and all three colors of clam chowder. Topping these is the lobster roll. Don't be fooled into ordering a lobster salad roll, it disappoints. The lobster roll is fresh lobster meat on a buttered hot dog bun-like roll. I recommend Lenny and Joe's on Route 1 in Westbrook. Poor Jackson freaked out on the way there. I thought it would be 5 minutes, so I didn't stop right away. When I got him out, he was covered in vomitus, either causing the tears, or caused by them I couldn't say. I ordered today from their drive in in Madison, but I should've driven the extra few miles and sat down instead. It's just a little bit better there.

On the way home, Jackson cried again. It's an hour drive, so I pulled over and comforted him to sleep before heading home. He slept for 30 minutes, then woke up wailing. I gave him 10 minutes,contemplating what hunger pangs mean to the young. So I found a deserted semilit parking lot to feed him. After a few minutes, 2 older men got out of a truck and start heading toward my car. So I'm in the backseat with the doors locked and my boob hanging out, dialing to have 911 at the ready. They asked what I was doing, couldn't hear and requested I roll down the window. Well that's impossible from the backseat with the engine off, so I had to keep shouting. Turns out they were the janitorial staff at the school, and the parking lot is closed after 9pm. After eating, Jackson soiled his diaper, but I didn't want to stand outside late at night to change him, so I gave him his pacifier and set out for home. He wailed the whole way there--heartbreaking. But he was fine. I'm still calling this a successful outing because we made it 5 hours in peace, and Jackson did have impetus for the tears all 3 times.

That's a picture of Jackson and the blue moon from our house.

ps. The shutter speed on my camera is very slooow, but cool camera trick with the moon, eh? If you pull up a larger image, tubes of light appear. It's like a lunar churro (maybe that's what attracted my Latino T-shirt salesman).

Mom's meetings.

Tuesdays the hospital sponsors meetings for new mothers. I've never been to a support group, but I imagine they're like this. We start by going around, introducing ourselves and our babies, saying how long we've living as mothers, and telling one thing about ourselves. Once that is over, we're free to discuss the babies, and give out tips on how we got through it, or ask for advice.

It's fantastic! Everyone dishes on their babies rashes, which pediatricians to see (or not), what baby gear is worth it and where to get it, how almost no one really puts her baby to sleep alone and on their backs. We can weigh the chunks (Jackson weighed in at 12lb 6oz today. Even subtracting 4oz for the clothes on his back--size 3-6 months now--my 1 month old is a BEEFCAKE). The lactation consulting is available. And I get to see what my baby might look like and be able to accomplish at 4 or 10 months. New moms, go to these meetings at your local hospital. When I return to the real world, I'm going to have to ditch my important work meetings so that I can keep coming, even if I can't bring Jackson with me.

Scratch & Dent Sales

This is going to seem a bit cynical and insensitive, but I'm posting anyway, it's funny damnit! I was visiting my neighbor a few weeks ago. Her friend was visiting and wanted to get her newborn baby fix, maybe sniff up some of his milky essence when I wasn't looking. My neighbor has just taken on the responsibility of fostering a four year old. He's cute, but he's not an easy case. She took him from what had been the States residence of last resort. We were talking about this and the other children she had fostered in the past, and the boys her friend had fostered and adopted. Aparently, those boys used to erupt in obscenities when they were out in public. She wanted to wear a T-shirt to the effect that it wasn't her fault. So we were discussing the challenges of adopting an older child vs those of a newborn, including the birth. I mentioned how the foster system was like getting your family from the scratch and dent store, and how much work it is to refinish them.



There's not much more to be said about that. I feel I'm permitted to write about the "scratch and dent" kids since my neighbor and her friend think its so funny. Also, there's a place reserved in heaven for my neighbor. Her doors are wide open for the needy, be they human or animal.

eau la leche

I was reading my friend's blog about their baby Elliot Plum Campaign: Opening skirmishes in the life of EJWH: like milk into baby. Brandon had written a piece about Elliot being made entirely of milk. He takes in milk, and from that produces eyelashes and ears, not to mention the orange goo that's expelled. I thought about this and what an interesting idea it was, then I started over analyzing and getting technical. This is an amusing (or annoying) habit I have as a scientist. [Brandon, please don't take this personally, because I really do love your piece]. Technically though, it's a little less amazing. I mean milk consists of the same proteins, carbs, and fats that are available in food and even nonfood items, mixed in with the vitamins, minerals (carefully selected to be more bio-available). The good stuff is just provided in a fluid structure. These nutrients are either consumed as fuel, or rearranged into other proteins, fats, and carbs to make up the various tissues. The whole process is truly amazing, but the fact that the intermediary between my meal of Chicken Korma and cinnamon bears (these are not available in the Northeast! If you visit me from somewhere they are available, boarding fees with me are 5 lbs of cinnamon bears, preferably Sweets) Anyway, the milk is just a small step in the incredible biochemical process of life. OK, it is amazing that the child is made entirely of milk (outside of the womb), but this is such a small part of it that it becomes trivial in comparison. Plants for example are made solely of dirt and air. That's seemingly even further removed from living tissue than milk, which after all is manufactured by living tissue. The whole water into wine is a bit more impressive, if only because water doesn't contain the components of wine, that trick wasn't just rearranging, it took some conjuring.

The comment I have to add is that the new baby smell everyone loves, its milk! All those people out there who go around stealing whiffs from new babies heads (you know who you are), or atleast longing to, are just craving the white stuff! I'm not saying it would satisfy to open up the refrigerator and wave the jug under your schnauze, but if you get desperate, it may just take the edge off.

ps. NPR this morning had an interesting monologue about a perfume and food party, where the perfumes were paired to the food much like wines would normally be. There was some time given to how different smell combinations would combine to make other fragrances, for example vanilla plus clove, plus some other stuff--maybe lemon--blends to give the illusion of coca-cola. Check it: Perfume Dinner Is a Feast for the Nose

Posable Action [Figure] Jackson

Jackson is just getting to the point where he makes a great posable action figure doll. We can prop him up in a corner, wrap his little hands around a toy, hold him up to stand, or even prop his pacifier or bottle in place with his fists. Good fun.