quiet in the office today. i get in early as a rule, more to set the course for the day then accomplish any actual work, since most of what i do is on the run, and involves other people in the office.

it's nice though when no-one else is here. the clocks go back next week, which i desperately need to help my body with the sleeping issues. Sunlight is natures alarm clock, and my Dr highly recommends that i stand facing the sun for 20 minutes every morning when I get up. that's fine, but right now, it's still dark out when I do that.

peace and quiet surrounded me. i padded back to the bedroom. Both dogs were curled up on the bed with my wife, the husky's tail tucked over her nose to keep her warm. must be genetic. Casey was warm, curled up under the covers, the baby growing inside her, making her sleepy.

It was frosty out, the first time this year, when i opened the back door. the dogs wandered into the kitchen and out into the yard, and I stepped into the cool air, the sun not yet up, but just starting to turn the sky blue from black.

I love this time of the day. it's quiet, and the house is calm.

observations...

• the new mazda 6.
• i have a new pet peeve about wrinkled sweaters. just don't do it.
  
• Burberry.
  
• christmas trees in Lowes
• evasiveness

and...disturbing trends in womens footware.
NO: "Gladiators", "Wedges"

MAYBE: "Peep Toes"

YES: "Boots", "Heels"

Thinking about a career as a tile layer. I did my parents entry way this weekend. i think I'm at the point now where i could charge for my skills, although to date i have not had to lay anything as tricky as marble. $250/Day, 1/2 day minimum.

ok. i get that $700 bazillion dollars is alot of money ($2167 for every person in the US, according to CNN). i get that no-one wants to bail out failed institutions. i get all that. but, people, PEOPLE, i'm trying to re-fi my second mortgage this week, and i'll very pissed if this mucks that up.

thanks

nothing too crazy to report lately. Baby is growing, doing well.

Mostly been trying to wrap up landscaping jobs around the house. I'd say i'm 80% done. going to try and get some shrubs in before it gets too cold, and need to weatherproof some windows.

Work has been trying, with moves across the board, good and bad. enough about that tho.

On fatherhood.

When I was 20, the notion of being a parent was laughable

When you're 25, the notion of being a parent was scary, but not unrealistic

When I was 30, the notion of being a parent was exciting.

I'll turn 31 before my daughter is born, pretty much the exact age I though i would be when Casey and I would have our first child. It's hard to define when i turned the corner from scary to exciting. I think seeing my friends go first helped, but there was also something deeper inside that just clicked one day, quietly that said "I'm ready" (which is probably a laughable comment as well, since i'll probably be turned on my head with this whole thing). Still, it's a chapter in my life i'm very much looking forward to.

wow, what a great day to ride. wow.