If You Do/If You Don't

What's the best way to resolve our current predicament? Financially, something needs to change. Our debt, and/or living expenses is almost equal to our monthly income. How can that be? Oh, and then if you factor in gas prices, food costs, and diapers we're over-extending ourselves. I work two jobs and am currently looking to replace these low-paying jobs with jobs that can pay the bills and allow us to eat.

As my father is prone to say, and Albert Einstein agrees, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

And He Wore A Bow-tie!

Just in case you were wondering, I did end up driving into Baltimore for Jury Duty but on the 13th, that Tuesday, not on my day off. It was a small group of Jurors. We were chosen for a civil case, asked questions to determine our potential as fair and impartial jurors and then the majority were dismissed. I was not asked to sit on the jury. I was happy.
The best part of the day - besides getting out early enough to rush home and enjoy a beautiful afternoon with Sara and Evie Sue - would have to have been the attitudes of the court employees. The Jury clerk was bright and friendly. The Court Officer was warm, and constantly making little jokes here and there, mispronouncing names, and reassigning names for the jurors whom he could not pronounce. Then there was the Judge. At first glimpse he seemed like rather a severe sort of character with glasses, a bald head, and an apparent scowl. I soon noticed that he was wearing a bow-tie. When have you ever seen a Judge sporting a bow-tie? The scowl quickly faded to a puckish sneer. This guy, His Honor, was funny, too. He cracked jokes about Jurors obviously preferring to be elsewhere! He got it! He understood. He was happy to expedite the process and send us home.
The worse part of the day was the $25 parking lot fee, which, hopefully, the court will be reimbursing me for. Keep your fingers crossed.

Relax

As it turns out I don't have to drive into Baltimore for jury duty; not today anyway. Tomorrow? Maybe I'll have to drive in tomorrow. I'm supposed to call this evening and check on my status again.
But for today I am off! No school! No grocery store!
I slept in, and was only slightly disturbed by the utility workers digging up my neighbors' driveway. I walked the dog - beautiful morning - had a cup of coffee, and now I'm just relaxing as the baby naps. I plan on doing some reading today, some cleaning, laundry, and some relaxing. Maybe we'll take the family unit out on a long walk with the doggie and enjoy the sunshine. We've got the whole day ahead of us.

"Cosmic Joke".

One of my co-workers used the above term to describe the fact that I may have to drive into Baltimore and go through jury selection/serve jury duty this coming Monday. The reason it's funny is because Monday is my DAY OFF! I get one day off a month, when I don't work either job, and it looks like I might be performing my civic duty on that one day! Yay! Life is funny that way!

Then & Now

Then when I didn't update my blog I felt a little guilty. I used to write all the time. Sometimes it was interesting, I think, and sometimes it was just to write.

Now when I don't update my blog I'm OK with it. I'm busy balancing 2 jobs and being a 1st time daddy. I'm sitting around playing with my baby, changing diapers or trying to quiet the baby.

Peaks & Valleys!

Tuesday I took a personal day from work to stay home with the wife and kid. Sara had a doctor's appointment and I decided it was time for a mental health day. So I slept in a bit, cuddled with the wife and kid and enjoyed the unusually mild weather.
Then the capper on a great day was that, while Sara was at her appointment, I took the daughter on our 1st ever Daddy Daughter Date! Liverpool FC was having a soccer match and a local Irish pub always shows the games. This past season I've tried to pay attention more to the English Premiere League Soccer season. So I packed up the baby, a diaper bag, change of baby clothes, and a bottle of freshly pumped breast milk and headed off to the pub. My plan was that Evie Sue would sleep for most of the game and I would be free to enjoy a pint or two, and some Guinness BBQ Wings! Unfortunately, the bartender, an Irishman who roots for a rival team, came over to talk smack about my Team Jacket and his boisterous Irish Brogue woke the baby. Her eyes popped open, she looked around and started to whine. So I scooped her up in my arms, started pacing back and forth while cooing in her ear as the game started.
She was great!
Evie Sue was quiet, amicable and actually seemed to watch some of the action. She wasn't, of course, but I pretended. Then I finally got her to fall back asleep right before the 2nd half of the game started. She nearly awoke at each goal Liverpool scored because her daddy would stand up and cheer loudly before remembering her sleeping nearby. Sara showed up after the appointment, all clear, and watched the rest of the game with us.
The weather was beautiful. The game was a victory. Evie Sue and I enjoyed our day and I dreaded going back to work the next day.
Then came the next day!
A Double Shift! I went to school, and then the evening job! UGH! Working with the students, some of whom are ungrateful and disrespectful, when all I can think about is my family back home is difficult. Then to move on to my 2nd job and work another 7 to 8 hours is brutal. I was exhausted.
I was complaining to a coworker - a rather peaceful-minded fellow - when he said, "Hey man, it could always be worse. This weekend a friend of mine died. He was camping and a tree fell on him. He's dead."
Yes, he was right. I guess it could always be worse.
Later on, as I was talking to the same coworker. We were talking about work, paychecks, travels, and careers when this grocery-stocking Confucius said, "They've got it right over there in Spain, man. When I was there they told me, 'Americans Live To Work but we Work To Live!' And they do, man. They do."
Then he said, "Your job is what you do not who you are."
It was a very interesting conversation. Made me think about spending the day before with Evie Sue, about how I'm working two jobs, exhausting myself and wishing I was home more. It made me wish, yet again, for a way to find an answer... to every little question that plagues me; every single one.
Wouldn't that be nice?

Getting Much Sleep?

But still more than the wife is! Just think, teething is just a few months away. So we've got that to look forward to...

My New Favorite Thing

Waking up, sitting in the nursery recliner, with my daughter in my arms. It's a great way to start the day even if my day is starting before 6 AM.
There've been a couple of days this past week when I've been called up for diaper duty around 4 in the morning, and then I sit up with Evie Sue until she goes down again. Inevitably, daddy falls asleep, as well, and then wakes up a short time later, smiles, kisses the baby, and then moves the precious cargo back into her bassinet.
In other news, the baby appears to have reflux. She was crying at times when she was clean, full, and not tired. Turns out she was crying because she couldn't say, "Holy crap, this hurts! Hey you two, I've got heartburn! Hot bubbling magma in my esophagus! Hey! Hey? Why aren't you helping me? Oh, I see how it is. That does it! Next time you change my diaper I'm going to poop all over that changing table! Jerks!"
Now we are aware of the problem and we can do our best to combat the reflux. We keep her upright for a longer after feedings, have her on an incline when we lie her down, and just pay attention more to her squirming, fussing, and gurgling. Looks like we won't be leaving her home alone anytime soon. (That's a joke. She's very independent. for a month old infant.)

No More Reinforcements?

Here we are. The 2nd week of January 2012 and this is my 1st post of the New Year! It's been quite an adjustment having this little baby person come into our lives. The crying! The fussing! The crankiness! The pooping! The crying! And that's just me and the wife! (Rim-shot)
Anyway, we're parents. We were fortunate enough to have Sara's mom here for the 1st week or so of Evie Sue's life and that help was immeasurable. Then we had a few weeks to do the parenting thing on our own before Sara's best friend flew in from Minnesota and lent a hand. Her help was, once again, immeasurable. Just having someone in the house who's done this sort of thing before was very calming.
Now we're on our own again, at home anyway, and still trying to find our normal. How do we spend our quiet time? How often should the baby sleep? Eat? Cry? Why does she always soil a freshly changed diaper. Slowly but surely we're figuring things out.
I hope...

So Long 2011! Hello 2012!

Another year gone! Where has the time gone?

It occured to both Sara and I tonight that the last few New Years we've been happy to see the old year pass. I reviewed my blog and noticed my posts seemed to echo that sentiment. This year was different.

It wasn't a perfect year, by any means, but it was an eventful one! The pregnancy and birth of our daughter has made this year one that we will always remember. It also has had the strange effect of making me feel... what's the word?... Hopeful! I feel hopeful. Optimistic! I'm actually looking forward to the coming year and seeing what amazing things will happen with this wonderful little girl we are living with. She has changed our lives so much in the short time we've had her and I can't even begin to imagine the changes that still lie ahead.