J.P. eating his first snow cone.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Weekend Update
Another really, really nice weekend.
Friday, as I was on my way home from work, Jude called me. J.P. had managed to lock the front door when they walked outside. Jude was barefooted, but she and J.P. walked down to Rob and Anne Marie Elliott's house and she called me from their telephone. When I arrived, J.P. and Ayden were playing together. Later, the 6 of us strolled to Cha Chah on Belmont Boulevard. We sat on the patio, facing Belmont Boulevard and ate dinner. On the way home, we stopped at the soccer field at Belmont University. J.P. and Ayden ran around while Anne Marie, Jude and I threw a frisbee. As it got dark, we strolled home.
Saturday morning, early, I picked up our friends, Hal Humphreys and Kim Green, and drove to Shelby Bottoms for a trail run. There was a lot of activity in the park, which was good to see. Slowly but surely, Shelby Park is returning to normal after the flood. Hal, Kim and I had a great run, then stopped by Bongo Java East for a quick cup of coffee. When I got home, Jude and I took J.P. to Cool Springs for a haircut. As usual, he screamed and cried, although he calmed down after a few minutes. Progress, I guess. After he woke up from his afternoon nap, Jude, J.P and I drove over to Bill Ramsay's annual block party on Sweetbriar - "Ode to Oltha." J.P. sampled his first snow cone (cherry), listened to some music and rode on "the train" with Jude.
This morning, J.P. and I strolled to Bongo Java for breakfast. We went to church at St. Patrick, then had lunch. This afternoon, a little before 5 p.m., we drove to Las Paletas for popsicles. J.P. took a few licks of a strawberry popsicle, but overall, wasn't too interested. We walked to Sevier Park, so J.P. could play at the playground. I left from there to go for a 4 mile run, finishing at home.
A busy, but relaxing weekend.
Friday, as I was on my way home from work, Jude called me. J.P. had managed to lock the front door when they walked outside. Jude was barefooted, but she and J.P. walked down to Rob and Anne Marie Elliott's house and she called me from their telephone. When I arrived, J.P. and Ayden were playing together. Later, the 6 of us strolled to Cha Chah on Belmont Boulevard. We sat on the patio, facing Belmont Boulevard and ate dinner. On the way home, we stopped at the soccer field at Belmont University. J.P. and Ayden ran around while Anne Marie, Jude and I threw a frisbee. As it got dark, we strolled home.
Saturday morning, early, I picked up our friends, Hal Humphreys and Kim Green, and drove to Shelby Bottoms for a trail run. There was a lot of activity in the park, which was good to see. Slowly but surely, Shelby Park is returning to normal after the flood. Hal, Kim and I had a great run, then stopped by Bongo Java East for a quick cup of coffee. When I got home, Jude and I took J.P. to Cool Springs for a haircut. As usual, he screamed and cried, although he calmed down after a few minutes. Progress, I guess. After he woke up from his afternoon nap, Jude, J.P and I drove over to Bill Ramsay's annual block party on Sweetbriar - "Ode to Oltha." J.P. sampled his first snow cone (cherry), listened to some music and rode on "the train" with Jude.
This morning, J.P. and I strolled to Bongo Java for breakfast. We went to church at St. Patrick, then had lunch. This afternoon, a little before 5 p.m., we drove to Las Paletas for popsicles. J.P. took a few licks of a strawberry popsicle, but overall, wasn't too interested. We walked to Sevier Park, so J.P. could play at the playground. I left from there to go for a 4 mile run, finishing at home.
A busy, but relaxing weekend.
First Day of School
Friday morning, I followed Jude and J.P. to West End United Methodist Church, so we could drop J.P. off for his first day of daycare. We arrived a few minutes before 9 a.m. and his classroom wasn't open yet, so we milled about the church with a few other nervous parents and their toddlers. After what seemed like an eternity, the lights in the classroom were turned on and Jude, J.P. and I walked in together.
J.P. followed us into the kitchen, as we placed his lunch in the refrigerator. For some reason, it seemed strange to see his name, J.P. Newman, written in permanent magic marker on his food container. I guess it was a sign that, for perhaps the first time, he had an identity of his own. We walked back into the classroom and as Jude talked quietly to J.P., I signed him in. I looked up and Jude was slipping out the door, so I followed her.
As we walked away, I took one last peak through a window next to the door. J.P. was standing in the middle of the floor looking around, searching for us, bewildered that he couldn't find us. My heart felt like it would break. Outside, we reassured each other that it would be okay, said goodbye and drove to work.
A few minutes before 3 p.m., Jude called me at work to let me know she had picked J.P. up at daycare. When she walked in to get him, expecting a gleeful reunion of sorts, she found him napping on his mat on the floor. He was sleeping soundly, covered with his favorite blanket and clutching "Maurice Meow" in his hands. "Was he excited to see you?" I asked. "Not really," she said, "he was just groggy.' Oh, well.
Apparently, he cried for about 5 minutes after we left in the morning, then was fine. He played in the classroom and in the gym and apparently had a good time. He didn't eat a lot for lunch, but that's understandable, I think. Overall, a pretty good first day of school.
J.P. followed us into the kitchen, as we placed his lunch in the refrigerator. For some reason, it seemed strange to see his name, J.P. Newman, written in permanent magic marker on his food container. I guess it was a sign that, for perhaps the first time, he had an identity of his own. We walked back into the classroom and as Jude talked quietly to J.P., I signed him in. I looked up and Jude was slipping out the door, so I followed her.
As we walked away, I took one last peak through a window next to the door. J.P. was standing in the middle of the floor looking around, searching for us, bewildered that he couldn't find us. My heart felt like it would break. Outside, we reassured each other that it would be okay, said goodbye and drove to work.
A few minutes before 3 p.m., Jude called me at work to let me know she had picked J.P. up at daycare. When she walked in to get him, expecting a gleeful reunion of sorts, she found him napping on his mat on the floor. He was sleeping soundly, covered with his favorite blanket and clutching "Maurice Meow" in his hands. "Was he excited to see you?" I asked. "Not really," she said, "he was just groggy.' Oh, well.
Apparently, he cried for about 5 minutes after we left in the morning, then was fine. He played in the classroom and in the gym and apparently had a good time. He didn't eat a lot for lunch, but that's understandable, I think. Overall, a pretty good first day of school.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
School
It's late, I need to go to bed, but I'm putting it off. Tomorrow morning, I take J.P. to daycare for the first time, at West End United Methodist Church. I'm going to drop him off at 9 a.m., then head into work. Jude will pick him up tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
I know he needs to go to daycare, at least one or two days a week, so he can be around other children. Still, it's going to be tough leaving him there tomorrow morning, alone, in unfamiliar surroundings and with unfamiliar people. It's going to break my heart if he cries when I leave, as I suspect he will.
What's next, kindergarten, high school, college, wedding? I mean, seriously, we just brought him home from the hospital the other day, right? It sure feels that way.
I know he needs to go to daycare, at least one or two days a week, so he can be around other children. Still, it's going to be tough leaving him there tomorrow morning, alone, in unfamiliar surroundings and with unfamiliar people. It's going to break my heart if he cries when I leave, as I suspect he will.
What's next, kindergarten, high school, college, wedding? I mean, seriously, we just brought him home from the hospital the other day, right? It sure feels that way.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Whither Neil?
On my bucket list of things I want to do before I die is to see Neil Young live, in concert. I'm a huge fan. He's one of the mainstays in the songlists on my iPod.
Tonight, courtesy of my friend and fellow attorney, Russ Heldman, I had three tickets to see Neil Young at the Ryman Auditorium. I met my friend, Mike Matteson, and a new attorney in our office, Alison Prestwood, for dinner at Urban Flats, with plans to go to the concert afterwards. We had a couple of beers over dinner and talked music, all of us really looking forward to seeing Neil Young in concert.
After dinner, we piled into Mike's car, drove into downtown and parked in a lot near the Ryman. We arrived at the gate a couple of minutes before the show was set to start. The ticket lady took my ticket and tried to scan it, unsuccessfully. She looked at the ticket, looked at me, and said, "this ticket is for last night's show."
My response? "Oh shit."
No Neil Young, not tonight, anyway.
Damn.
Tonight, courtesy of my friend and fellow attorney, Russ Heldman, I had three tickets to see Neil Young at the Ryman Auditorium. I met my friend, Mike Matteson, and a new attorney in our office, Alison Prestwood, for dinner at Urban Flats, with plans to go to the concert afterwards. We had a couple of beers over dinner and talked music, all of us really looking forward to seeing Neil Young in concert.
After dinner, we piled into Mike's car, drove into downtown and parked in a lot near the Ryman. We arrived at the gate a couple of minutes before the show was set to start. The ticket lady took my ticket and tried to scan it, unsuccessfully. She looked at the ticket, looked at me, and said, "this ticket is for last night's show."
My response? "Oh shit."
No Neil Young, not tonight, anyway.
Damn.
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