Scooter Chronicles

Here is another batch of photos of Nigel. These were taken throughout the month of June. Included in these are a picture of just his trains. When I take pictures of Nigel playing with his trains, after a few he comes over to see them, then requests that I take a picture or two of the trains by themselves so he can see them.

Also included is a picture of Molson hanging out with Nigel. My internet friend and fellow Aussie Rules fantasy football participant was asking about him when we met up at the Phillies’ game a month ago.

To top it off, there are three pictures of Nigel and the after effects of eating Cheez-Doodles.

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On Sunday I was downstairs reading. My Mother-In-Law’s basement is fully finished and is a walk-out, including being on the same level as the garage. While in my favorite chair to read, I caught sight through the door-wall something moving. It was a small fawn. I quickly went upstairs to grab the camera. By the time I got back, another fawn had joined them, and so did their mother.

(You can click on them to see a bigger image.)

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I had been hoping the Wings would sign Mats Sundin to help the scoring department. Sure, the Wings won the Cup, but other then Zetterberg and Datsyuk’s steady playmaking, they haven’t had anyone that could steal a game with super scoring powress since Sergei Fedorov left for greener pastures in 2003 (he once scored all five goals in an OT 5-4 victory over the Capitals). Sundin would have been a nice addition, especially considering he’s pretty good on both sides of the puck. Instead the Wings got the prize of the free agent pool: Marian Hossa. I was shocked to see this NEWS.

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So since the Red Wings beat the Penguins in the Cup Finals, I obviously won the bet I had with the guy at work. And my prize? COOKIES!!

They are supposedly only found in the Pittsburgh area. I had my choice of face, and went with the pirate look. Mostly because I thought it would be a bit fun, and Marcia has a thing for pirates.

They were quite tasty.

UPDATED AT 6:15 PM

Could be a very interesting day today. One of the more interesting group of free agents will be vying for spots amongst the 30 NHL teams. Some big moves have already happened. Adam Foote and Jon-Michael Liles both re-upped with the Avalanche. The Eastern Conference Champion Penguins didn’t expect to be able to resign Ryan Malone, so they shipped his rights off to Tampa, and the Bolts laid down an offer he couldn’t refuse. (The Bolts also sewed up team captain Vincent Lacavalier for nine years, and brought Barry “The Mullet” Melrose back to an NHL bench … the new owners are trying to bring back the glory of 2004’s Cup Championship season.) The Flyers sent...

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On Sunday afternoon I finished reading “The Complete Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi. This book contained both parts of the “Persepolis” story that were originally published as two separate books.

“Persepolis” is a memoir of Satrapi’s life from 1979 to 1994 (from approximately the ages of 9 to 24). It is similar to a graphic novel. This is part of what Amazon has listed as the “product description”:

“Persepolis” is the story of Satrapi’s unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the...

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Marcia and I had one of those “first time” things happen last night, or should I saw early this morning. At about 12:45 Nigel woke up and started crying. There have been a time or two over the last year that he would do this. He usually goes right back to sleep quickly. But this morning he kept crying. I finally went in to check on him.

His voice had been squeaky all day, like he was coming down with something. We had given him something earlier in the day, and it seemed to help. So Marcia went and got it for him again while I changed his diaper. But a minute after he took the medicine, he threw up. So we ended up having to throw things into the washer (which needed to be rinsed off before going in), getting him...

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FINALLY!

Marcia and I wanted to take him for his second birthday. We kept saying next weekend, or in a couple of weeks. Before we knew it, it was June. As it is, we are closer now to his third birthday. Also, unlike before where Nigel was really gung-ho or at least cooperative, this time around he was scared of the lights. (The photographers said this usually happens between 2 and 3, and if not being scared of things, just not wanting to sit for them.) Thankfully we brought along some of his trains and train books to help calm him down and get him interested in sitting. They ended up in most, if not all, of the photos.

So here are a few that turned out well.

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On Friday afternoon I finished reading “The Brief Life of Oscar Wao”, the debut novel by Junot Diaz, which also won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

From Publishers Weekly, a review by Matthew Sharpe will have to serve as a plot synopsis for my review:

A reader might at first be surprised by how many chapters of a book entitled The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao are devoted not to its sci fi–and–fantasy-gobbling nerd-hero but to his sister, his mother and his grandfather. However, Junot Diaz’s dark and exuberant first novel makes...

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Well, almost that is.

Marcia has been encouraging him to sit on the kiddie potty we bought for him a while ago. And more recently she bought his some pull-ups, too. But today he took his first real steps towards using it. At one point yesterday he pointed to the front of his pants (as he has been doing lately when he has been “going”), and then ran for the bathroom. Marcia got his pants and pull-ups down, but he had already gone in them. But he still sat down and got a little more to come out and into the potty. Needless to say I was very happy to hear that when I came home from work.

Potty training is one of the things that I dread doing. Not being sure what to do and how to approach it. But at the rate...

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