The Zog Blog

We packed up, we moved separately so that I didn’t hit any too-pregnant-to-fly limits, we unpacked, we found a preschool for Jacob, we unpacked, we got Jacob through the many transitions, we unpacked, the baby grew, I swelled, we all slept, we cursed the humidity, we unpacked, we started working, the baby grew, the baby [...]

Jacob enters the room with a tape measure and the mouse to our computer.
“This tape measure is not sticking! Maybe the mouse can help it!”

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Also, an addendum to the last post: I took a picture of my scraps from the last pie crust.

We are likely to disappear from internet-land for the next couple [...]

So the thing about pie crust is this. While a lot is made of whether a crust is flaky, the most important thing to remember is that any crust must also be tender to suit most people’s taste. And to enhance tenderness, you absolutely need to be fast. There are lots of other things you [...]

Apparently the blog decided that if I wasn’t going to update it, it would just stop working.
Posting appears to be the apparent fix for this. As I’m knee-deep in upgrades and work just at the moment, how about a classic Jacob expression?

(He would still like me to put the camera away.)

Well, this seems to be a year for big changes, so why not go with it? In June, we’ll be moving our family back to our house in the Boston area. There are still plenty of details to figure out, but all major decisions have been made.

Certain family members are jumping for joy.

(Thanks so much, everyone, for your kind words about my grandfather. Time, of course, heals all.)
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Business trips (both of us), guests, planning another major move (more on that later), trying to come up with names for the healthy BOY that seems to be crushing my internal organs, the beginnings of potty training, keeping up with [...]

On February 7, after more long illnesses than any one human should have to encounter, my grandfather Ray passed away. He was a few weeks past his 80th birthday.
As an adult, I knew Ray better than any of my other grandparents. I thought, as I started Gram Lois’ essay back in August, that whenever Grampie [...]

Pregnancy still sucks, but fortunately (?) I have plenty of other things keeping me way too busy to dwell on that fact. In lieu of complaining about them, though, I want to share something I wrote today.
This is about politics. I’ve wanted to write something for awhile, about my feelings on the upcoming election, but [...]

First of all, if your primary elections are today, get out and VOTE! Go. Go now.
Second… well, the little mister is going to be pretty surprised, come his birthday this year.

Around then, a new zog will join our family. The crib notes: I’m 12 weeks along, everything looks healthy and fine, I’m having as [...]

Don’t have much to say, I guess. Our lives are pretty consumed by logistics large and small, at this point. We’re planning like busy planners, waiting, trying to make decisions, etc., etc., etc.
So here’s a grainy, over-exposed view of our morning:

…and a statement that you’re all in our thoughts. Hope you’re well!

Except we’re not, really. Returning to California feels like the vacation, our time in New England like home. I don’t know exactly when or how, but I’ve got to get back there.
It’s impossible to pick highlights, because even with all of the moving around and illness and difficulty, I had such a wonderful time [...]

So far, Hanukkah and Christmas are running neck and neck. Hanukkah has singing books, which are pretty cool:

But Christmas definitely has better hats.

Time: 6:52 AM.
Temperature: 24 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dude’s scraping the ice off of his windshield in shorts.
(At least he was wearing a fleece vest.)

The holiday season is upon us. Hanukkah has started, and it’s much more enjoyable this year due to Jacob’s vastly increased ability to grasp the whole thing. “Happy Hanukkah!”, he shouts to random passers-by. “Hanukkah a HOLIDAY!”

He’s really enjoying the little safari animals we’re giving him this year, and it’s so much fun to see [...]

Wednesday was a pretty good day. Jacob decided in the morning that he didn’t want to attend the Mommy & Me-type class we usually go to (”Jacob no go class today pleeease, Mommy?”), so we stayed at home and Jacob helped me work.

But my favorite part of the day was unwinding at the end [...]