Eeexxxccellennnttt (tenting of fingers), I should get a patent or something...

Unrelated to my overall post, I've been meaning to get this photo off my phone and posted on the blog.  One morning before Katie was discharged from the hospital, they brought in our "daughter" Tommy.  Someone in the nursery got him all spruced up that morning.  The nurse was horrified when she brought him in and finally realized what was wrong.  Katie and I thought it was pretty funny - can't wait to show him when he's older.

This is Tommy today.  We're really blessed to have an easy-going, easy to please baby.  He loves to be held, and he loves his pacifier.  When he's fussy, just pop that thing in and he's happy.  Remove it, and its like pulling the pin on a little grenade.  He often needs it to calm down enough to fall asleep too, and occassionally needs it to stay asleep.  Katie and I (mostly Katie) have spent a couple nights holding that thing in his mouth - all night. 

His hands serve as poor substitutes.  He lets us know when his pacifier falls out of his mouth.  So, I'm guessing I'm not the first dad to think of this.  You know the story of the 3M post-it-note glue?  At first the scientist thought he'd come up with a worthless glue, until a new use dawned on him?  The glue was adhesive enough to stick, but not sticky enough to bond - viola - post it notes.  See where I'm going?  I should see about shmearing some of that glue on the inside of the pacifier flange to help keep that thing in baby mouths...  I should get a patent...  I'm like a genious or something.

Well, if not a genious, at least I'm a funny daddy !

In unrelated news, our nephew Henry took his first self-portrait tonight.  Not bad for about 3 months old!

Henry is following what appears to be a rich Heersink family tradition of amazing self-portraits.

WORLD CUP BABY!!!

I'm not much of a sports fan, meaning I follow absolutely nothing sports related.  I particularly dislike team sports, but am okay with shooting sports (trap, 5-stand, biathalon, etc).  Katie's roommate and friend Peg (from Calvin) came to Utah last weekend because her husband competed in the Archery World Cup held here in Ogden.  He competes on the Canadian team, but we went to see the finals on Saturday anyway ;).

I'd guess the yellow section of the targets are about the size of grapefruits and they shoot at 70 meters - not too shabby.

Tommy wasn't too impressed and snoozed most of the evening in his pram.

And just because he's so darn cute and smiley tonight, here's a couple of my boy.

His smile makes my heart jump!  Phew, he doesn't smile like Grandpa Tom...  Love you Dad!!!

Ever hear of a partial power outage?

We came home last Wednesday night to find half our house without power.  I went downstairs with my circuit tester and found only one of two legs hot... (each leg supplies 120 volts, & together 240 volts).  I've never heard of this happening, but when I called the power company they said it "happens all the time".  Apparently if the insulation gets nicked on underground cables and water gets in, the aluminum cables corrode and eventually fail in that spot.  A power guy showed up Wednesday night about midnight and "jumped" the legs so the whole house had 120 volts which is all you need to turn on lights, but the AC doesn't work without both legs (and 240 volt service).  "Don't worry" he says, someone will be out tomorrow, and if not then Friday.  I didn't figure anyone would show up Thursday other than to "blue stake", but when I came home Friday to an almost 90 degree home, I called the power company again.  I simply called to follow up and get an update.  The unfortunate kid who took my call got an earfull when he reported that the ticket was closed and everything was certainly repaired.  When he wouldn't listen that I was testing the breaker panel and could verify it wan't repaired, I popped a can of Dutch Poppa-Bear whoop-ass on him.  Repairmen showed up that night. 

They're able to detect the location of the break with this gadget.  My buddy Jason probably designed it in his sleep on night.  I love being friends with one of the smartest guys on the planet.  If you don't know him, check out his blog.

I lucked out - the break was in the corner of my yard and they didn't have to dig up my lawn or cut down another tree.

Hey Chris, the pros work with live power just like me!  Except, the live cables they're messing with will turn you into a Post Toastee...

There it is, oxidized all the way through.

They just clean up the ends, strip a little insulation, clamp together and shrink wrap.  Phew, we were finally able to sleep again that night!

What, birth announcements?

I've never heard of a birth announcement before, but apparently this is commonly done.  I guess, upon reflection I'm aware of having received several through the last few years from close friends and family.  We just ordered announcements tonight to mail out, but spent some time this weekend getting photos put together and touched up.  The following are just couple of our  favorites. 

Who doesn't like Bob Dylan?

I appreciate all forms of music, if you hadn't been able to tell by my blog's changing playlists.  My buddy in Phoenix has formally requested that I change out the Dylan playlist - apparently he doesn't like Bob Dylan?  Before I did that, I wanted to establish for the readers Jason's musical prowess.  Forunately I also like Jason't preferred hillbilly "music" that you can play at the bottom of the screen.  The following are videos posted on his own blog.

A good sampling - and Amen to the last part!

Jason "had" to "put up" with his mom & sister's music...

This is atually quite clever, but passes for highbrow culture with my buddy.

Cake does happen to be my favorite group - glad to see his kids have good taste.