The Music Experiment - Part Who Knows? (The New Favorite Band)

ZZ Top

Granted she's only 3 months old, but she went nuts for ZZ Top earlier today.  I was watching a concert of theirs and she was kicking her feet and making all kinds of noise.  Wouldn't take her eyes off the screen...so I know she was paying attention.  If I walked by, her eyes would follow me, but then she'd realize that she wasn't watching the concert anymore...eyes right back on Billy Gibbons.  She has good taste already.

I know what you're thinking...of course she likes them and she'll like the Wiggles and Dora and a bunch of other kids music when she's introduced to them.  I'm not so sure. 

She still cries whenever Peter Frampton comes on the radio.  If she hears, "Baby, I Love Your Way" or "Show Me The Way" once more...I think she'll throw her bottle at the radio.

Poor Guy

This experiment will continue for a very long time.  If I can avoid kids music and pop junk forever with her...I will.

Can A Brother Get A Break?

I just picture Ice T saying this.  The man is still a pimp.  Anyways, enough of that and on to what this blog is about.

I don't know if I've ever been this busy in my life.  Maybe, just before I was about to get married, but right now I think this period, tops that.  In fact, at the moment I write this, I should still be sleeping, but it's the only time have to write.  As most loyal readers (if I have any left) know, I haven't written many blogs lately.  Let's look at my latest schedule.

From 8-13 to 8-20 we were on vacation in NH.  I don't know if you've ever packed for (at the time) 2 1/2 month old baby for a week in what could be unpredictable weather.  Holy crap did she need a lot of stuff.  Still mission accomplished.  I don't really remember much of it, because I blinked and it was over.

Today (Saturday 8-27) is the baby's Baptism/Christening (I don't remember what it's called).  So all week it's been about coordinating and purchasing food for the cookout.  A cookout that is probably going to be a cook-in.  Seems like the east coast is about to get slammed by a hurricane called Irene.  Sounds like one of those tough biaatches from my high school days in Brockton, MA.  The hurricane's last name wouldn't happen to be Sanchez, would it?  Are her main weapons razor sharp Lee press-on nails and pulling hair?  Girl fights, way worse than boy fights.

Speaking of Brockton, the very next day (Sunday, if your keeping score) is a family reunion of sorts.  The guys I hung around with in Brockton and even after I moved to a different town, will all be getting back together for the first time in at least 10 yrs.  Jeff has managed to get everyone together.  Just like back in the days when we were younger, it doesn't matter what we do.  It'll be great just to spend a few hours with everyone.

The following weekend, Labor Day weekend, we head down to PA.  Riley gets to meet her third great-grandmother.  This weekend, as far as I know, will wrap up the whirlwind of travel that we've taken her on.  This (now) 3 month old baby will be to as many states as I went to when I was a teenager. 

Plus, before I forget...I've been putting together a benefit concert for my friend that has been in the hospital for the past 2 months.  You know in my free time.  Just something to try to help him out with hospital bills and what not.  I can report he's doing 1000 times better than he was at the beginning.  He's come a long way, but still has a long way to go.  The man is a fighter and he's proven he won't give in.  Without getting into any details, he was in about as bad shape as you could be in.  I'll report more on the concert as it gets closer.

I still won't get a break.  There are no sick days for Daddy.  No complaints however, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

All The Young Dudes

Or dudettes...We're taking our little baby girl to her first concert on Friday.  We figure she'll be 7 weeks old, it's about time she rocks out.  We're taking every precaution for her hearing, since it's as good as it'll ever get...not like vision which takes time to come in.  We have some earplugs for her.  It's an outdoor show, so the sound will have a place to go, unlike in a club.  The Throttles are playing and they aren't nearly as loud as they used to be.  I hope my friends are able to make it down for the show.  What could be a better evening?  Good music, outdoors and it's free.

Blog Blocked

This is what has been happening when I try to blog lately.  I'm getting "Blog Blocked" by the baby.  It's not without trying or lack of material, it's just no time and a lack of sleep.  I'll figure this out somehow...the transition may just take longer than I expected.

Nine By Design 38

Alrighty folks...I'm a little punch drunk right now.  My 2 week old daughter has been kicking my ass since 6AM.  I've finally gotten her down for what is hopefully a nice long nap.  The tranquilizers took effect almost immediately (kidding, maybe not).  She gave me today's topic though.  The 9 Do's and Don't's of dealing with a crying baby.  So without further ado, we'll get this going, because she might wake up.

9 Do's and Don't's Of A Crying Baby:

Do: Stay Calm.  The baby is freaking out, he/she doesn't need you to freak out as well.  It will serve both of well if you can stay calm.

Don't: Throw the baby out of the window.  You might want to, but that's why you need to stay cool, calm and collected.  

Do: Check the diaper.  It might be something as easy as that.  It'll take you two minutes and the baby calms down.

Don't: Scream "Oh My God!  What Have You Been Eating!"  It can be a frightening scene, maybe you should think about what you're feeding the child.

Do: Feed the Baby.  They might just be hungry.  I can get pretty cranky when I haven't eaten in a while.

Don't: Feed the Baby beer.  They already act like a drunk as it is.  They have trouble walking, you can't understand what they are trying to say and they throw up at random times for what seems like no reason.

Do: Distract the Baby.  Maybe use a toy or tickle them.  Anything to get them to forget they are crying and are upset.

Don't: Use Nude pictures.  You may like the nude pictures that you are showing your baby, but it's really going to be lost on them.  A buxom blonde, looks like lunch to them.

Do: Try to hold them differently.  A subtle change from over the shoulder to the cradle technique, might make a world of difference.

Don't: Hold them like luggage.  Those are arms and legs, not handles.  They are a baby, not a carry on.

Do: Sing or hum to them.  In my case, she likes when I do a death metal voice.  Sort of like James Hetfield's singing voice, when Jim Breuer imitates him, but not good.  I will not turn pro.

Don't: Play them Peter Frampton songs (my daughter hates him).  You could probably throw in Barry Manilow and Lady Ga Ga, although I did call my daughter, "Lady Goo Goo."  (Not really, just thought it was a funny joke)

Do: Rock or Bounce the baby.  Its soothing and different from the normal.

Don't: Shake the baby, they aren't martini's.  Don't even stir them.

Do: Dance with your baby.  They will enjoy the movement and can laugh at you, since no one is really a good dancer.

Don't: Break dance or End Zone dance with the baby.  They are not impressed by you "popping and locking" or your "worm."  Also, spiking the baby is good for nobody.

Do: Pacify the baby.  Sometimes they just need to suck on something (Get you minds out of the gutter) and aren't hungry.

Don't: Use cigarettes.  They don't understand the concept of inhaling and will just get them all soggy.  A waste of smokes in my opinion.

There you go.  My expert ways to soothe your crying baby.  Please do exactly what I say.  I've been a parent for 2 entire weeks.  I know it all.  I knew it all last week.  Cheers, Happy Weekend!  See you next week.

You should all know I'm kidding about harming a child.  I would never hurt my baby.  Yours, maybe, but not mine.  Smile...it's the weekend.

The Life Of Riley

Alright folks, in my pursuit to not turn this blog into a DaddyBlog, here's another baby post.  Both of the girls in my life were cleared to go home late Sunday night.  That was a whirlwind of improvisation on par with Robin Williams and Drew Carey's crew.  Mommy had to get some sleep, because she's still recovering from the delivery, which was quick, but not exactly smooth.  I sat up with Riley, holding her and listening to one of our local radio station's play their fan voted Top 500 for Memorial Day weekend.  Thank you to all our soldiers past and present for your service...just wanted to get what I had been unable to get out on time.

In listening to the Top 500, which is mainly 60's to 80's rock music, I would explain to Riley about the songs we were listening to.  It kept her very calm.  Until we got to a Peter Frampton song.  She hates, "Show Me The Way."  Just lost her mind when that came on, but immediately relaxed after the song ended.  That's pretty much been our weekend.  We got some family visitors on Monday.  My Mom (Nona, which is what she's wants to go by), Camilla's Mom and Step Dad and Auntie and Uncle, with Brains and Viper.  Viper was mad because, Riley couldn't play with her yet and Brains held Riley for 23.739 seconds longer than she got.  Sibling rivalry...Brains is at least smart enough to check her Cheerios for poison in the morning.  Viper was definitely on the warpath, but also tired from a long day at the Children's Museum planning her world takeover.  I think she's already scouting Riley to be part of it.

I'm going to try to get my vocals recorded for this week's radio show, but I think I'm going to skip a week and get the new one out for next Wednesday.  Just an update for those of you that might go looking for it.

The Life of Riley will be a weekly update of the baby happenings in our life.  So, I can in theory keep this DaddyBlog stuff to a minimum...for now.  I have no doubt my life is going to dominated by my girls for the next 50 years.

Enter Riley Lyn

I don't think the blog will turn into a Daddy-Blog, but you never know.  Extremely happy. 

Well...Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Blog

So, for the first time in 36 weeks there will be no Nine By Design here.  Also, please excuse the horrible title of this post, but as I type this my wife is having contractions and we're watching Sportscenter (her favorite show, not really, but it's the only on at 3:13AM).  She's not quite ready to go to the hospital, she has yet to see the smackdown that the Red Sox put on the Tigers yesterday.  I can't deny her that.  See you guys later.

So It Begins

Today is the Baby Shower.  If I didn't think fatherhood was real enough yet, it's official now.  It's hard to look cool in a Baby Bjorn.

150,000 Mile Check Up

Heading to the doctor's today.  Woo-hoo, nothing I love more than going to see a doctor.  I actually don't mind it, but I'd rather go to the dentist.  I love (I'm not kidding) to go to the dentist.  Yes, I'm a weirdo.  Just heading in for my annual check up.  Get my new prescription, nothing major...just keeps me balanced.  I'm much better on them, than off them.  Let's put it that way.

I wish this was like a car getting an overhaul.  Anyone that has known me for a long time, knows that I'm a fairly broken person.  Multiple knee injuries on both knees, to the point where I've started having a little bit of hip problem.  I'll be 37 this year, not 87.  Add a newborn on the way, who will run me into the ground as soon as she can.  Put me on the lift for a couple of new knees.  Then again, I'm totally used to this.  I blew my first knee out when I was 14, so it's been this way longer than it hasn't.  Does that make sense?

My daughter will be able to beat me in a race as soon as she learns how to run in a straight line.  Most parents (some are jerks, we all know one) let their kids win.  I could run full out and still lose, because I can't run.  My unborn child is already a better athlete than her old man.  So she's got that going for her.  That's like saying you could see clearer than Sammy Davis Jr. or that you're more coherent than Mickey Rooney.  Yeah, let's make fun of those guys.  They've had more tail combined than the state of Rhode Island.  On that note, I've got nothing else.  I've said enough.

This Life Under Construction

We've been working very hard on getting the baby's room completed.  We have limited room in our small condo.  The spare bedroom became a catch-all, for our books, CDs and everything else.  That would be fine if we had a normal sized collection, but we don't.  We have a small library of books (over 1300) and a small record store (around 1000).  I'll continue to put everything on iTunes, but will never get rid of my CDs and we'll never buy a Kindle or Nook.  It's just not our style.  We physically like to hold books in our hand.  We like to read liner notes and look at the album art.

That's only part of this whole deal.  The real hard part is fitting all of that stuff, somewhere.  So, we're getting creative, because we have to and it's what we do best.  The baby will have colorful wall pictures like Winnie the Pooh, but she'll also have some framed concert posters and framed vinyl on the walls.  Her first words might not be Mama or Dada, but Cheap Trick or Led Zeppelin.  I'd still be extremely proud, maybe even more so. 

Needless to say our place looks like a bomb hit it, which is about what it always looks like in reality.  In a perfect world, we would have moved about 6 years ago, but we know this world is anything but, perfect.  Now it's impossible for us to do that and we'll make do with what we have.  We'll figure it out, because (a) we have to and (b) it's what we always do. 

I'll just hang in there with the rest of you.  There's no give up here.  I just have to figure out how to hit the curveballs of life consistently.  I don't think batting .300 in Life is as good as it is in Baseball.  I could be wrong, but I doubt it.  Alrighty then...back to work.  I'm wearing my hard hat and safety glasses.

The Music Experiment - Part Seks

This is the sixth and probably last CD I make for the baby while she's still in the womb.  I figure, it's 120 songs by 120 different bands/performers, without repeating a band or performer.  I know I could make another one, but it just feels like the right amount.  I'm sure I'll be making CDs or playlists for her forever or until she develops her own tastes in music.  Basically, when she tells me to stop playing this crap.  That will be a dark day in this house.  Anyways, on with the list...with some commentary, because I can't help myself.

CD # 6

New Hampshire's All Right If You Like Fighting - Scissorfight (great band from NH)
Peace Sells - Megadeth
Life On Mars? - David Bowie
Wish - Nine Inch Nails
Manic Depression - Jimi Hendrix Experience
Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of A New Day - Jethro Tull
I Feel Love - Paul Gilbert (doing a cover of the Donna Summer song, Listen To This Version First)
Respect - Otis Redding (this is the original, Aretha Franklin is the more famous version)
Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
Hush - Deep Purple
It's A Mistake - Men At Work
Son Of A Gun - Nirvana (cover of the Vaselines song)
Fake Friends - Joan Jett
Shama Lama Ding Dong - Otis Day & The Knights
She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
Late In The Evening - Paul Simon
Personality Crisis - New York Dolls
Bringin' On The Heartbreak - Def Leppard (my favorite Def Leppard song, this and Hello America)
Corona - Minutemen (the Jackass theme, if you are unfamiliar, although there are lyrics to the song)
Eclipse - Pink Floyd

This might be the last one, but don't be surprised if it's not.

The Music Experiment - Part Fem

Just made a new CD for the baby.  I also try to make good play lists for my wife, because she's the one that listens to these from start to finish.  I have yet to repeat a band/performer.  I feel good about that, because at 20 songs per disc...that's 100 bands/performers.  It finally pays to have a lot of CDs and varying tastes in pseudo-popular music.  A lot of people have never heard of some of the bands I listen to.  Here's the latest disc.

CD #5

One Step Beyond - Madness
Short Notice - The Living End
Dreams - The Cranberries
Face Dance Part Two - Pete Townshend
Bernadette - The Four Tops
Second Hand News - Fleetwood Mac
I Got You - Split Enz
Down In The Park - Foo Fighters (doing a Tubeway Army cover)
Space Age Love Song - Flock Of Seagulls
Land Ho! - The Doors
Abacab - Genesis
Ex Lion Tamer - Wire
3AM - Clowns For Progress
Talk To Ya Later - The Tubes
Never Been Any Reason - Head East
Don't Run Wild - The Del Fuegos
Feeling That Way - Journey
Wasted Years - Iron Maiden
Rock And Roll Girls - John Fogerty
Always Something There To Remind Me - Naked Eyes

Stay tuned for more classics...

The Music Experiment - Part Quattro

Ahh yes, the old days and what you had to do to listen to music.  Actually, this guy is listening to a concert two cities away.  Couldn't afford tickets, but had these handy dandy ear cone thingys.  The baby gets active during the songs, so we think that's positive.  She could be going "Shut this crap off," for all I know.  Here's the fourth list of songs.

CD #4

Bring The Noise - Anthrax (with Public Enemy)
Looking Down The Barrel Of A Gun - Beastie Boys
Last Train To London - ELO
Sara Smile - Hall & Oates
Autonomy - Buzzcocks
My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama - Frank Zappa
Scarlet Begonias - Grateful Dead
Helplessly Hoping - Crosby, Stills & Nash
You're My Best Friend - Queen
Shoot To Thrill - AC/DC
A Conspiracy - Black Crowes
Don't Let Him Go - REO Speedwagon (There used to be a band called REO Speedealer, then they got sued, but I've always loved that name)
The Lovecats - The Cure
Christine's Tune - Flying Burrito Bros.
Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley - Robert Palmer
Hero Of The Day - Metallica (from the S&M album, the one with the orchestra.  Does amazing things for this song)
Myage - Descendents
Head Over Heels - The Go Go's
Ooh La La - The Faces (Ronnie Wood vocal)

More to come...

The Music Experiment - Part Trey

Another headache filled day (let's hope the baby doesn't get my migraines), which is why I'm posting the song list for the third homemade CD for the baby.  I can't complete sentences, let alone write anything witty and clever.  The comment about jazz was taken into consideration.  We don't have a lot of jazz in our music collections.  It has never really been our thing.  I will however look at what we do have and it could possibly make an appearance at sometime.  On with the song list.

CD #3 

Baba O'Riley - The Who
Ozone Baby - Led Zeppelin
See A Little Light - Bob Mould
Rollin' And Tumblin' - Canned Heat
Pressure Drop - The Clash
Public Image - Public Image Ltd.
Everywhere At Once - The Plimsouls
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Where Is My Mind? - The Pixies
Sugar Kane - Sonic Youth
Keep On Running - Spencer Davis Group
Rumble In Brighton - Stray Cats
Sway - Rolling Stones
Roadworn and Weary - Supersuckers
Shapes Of Things - Jeff Beck 
Excitable Boy - Warren Zevon
Stand - Sly & The Family Stone
Rocket - Smashing Pumpkins
Going Underground - The Jam
Into The Void - Black Sabbath

The Music Experiment - Part Deux

I'm cheating with this entry today, but it makes for an easy entry when you have a headache.  I'm going to list the songs I put on the two CDs I've made so far.  If you would like to suggest your own songs, feel free.  There will be more CDs made over the upcoming weeks.

CD #1

Hey Tonight - CCR
The One Thing - INXS
I'm Waiting For The Day - Beach Boys
I'm Looking Through You - Beatles
Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders
(I Know) I'm Losing You - Temptations
Can't Even Tell - Soul Asylum
Driven To Tears - Police
(Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads
September Gurls - Big Star
Coming Up Close - 'Til Tuesday
The Waiting - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Gotta Gettaway - Stiff Little Fingers
Wonderous Stories - YES
If I Should Fall From The Grace Of God - Pogues
I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) - Stevie Wonder
Beneath, Between and Behind - RUSH
Little Too Late - Pat Benatar
Shoplifters Of The World Unite - Smiths
Gone Ridin' - Chris Isaak

CD #2

I'm Always In Love - Wilco
Dreaming - Blondie
Creeque Alley - The Mamas & The Papas
Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits
Green Onions - Booker T. & The MGs
Candy-O - Cars
Beat's So Lonely - Charlie Sexton
High Fidelity - Elvis Costello
Not Too Soon - Throwing Muses
A Small Victory - Faith No More
Ain't Even Done With The Night - John Mellencamp
Memphis - Chuck Berry
Seven Chinese Bros. - R.E.M.
Never Said - Liz Phair
The Girl I Knew Somewhere - Monkees
China - Red Rockers
Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants
Kiss Me On The Bus - Replacements
(Keep Feeling) Fascination - The Human League
Victoria - Kinks

The Music Experiment

I've been doing a lot of reading, since I'm going to be a dad.  My wife is in her 6th month and the baby gets really active when she hears my voice.  So, my wife suggested that we start her on a music listening program.  Nothing major.  We're not going to buy the belly headphones.  I think that's a little weird and would never expect my wife to be on board with that.

Now we don't have any grand illusions of the baby being a musical prodigy or having this make her smarter, by any means.  My wife believes that since we talk to her all the time, that she will recognize our voices when she is born.  I agree with that.  There is no proof that the baby will recognize music that she hears in the womb, but there is also no harm in doing this from everything I've read.

My wife just thought it would be a good idea for me to make mix CDs (we're old school) of my kind of music.  There isn't anything wrong with what my wife listens to, it's just a little limited.  So, rather than have the baby listen to the radio.  I know, what kind of parents are we to put her through that type of torture?  I'm currently making some CDs. 

I already knew that the amniotic fluid will amplify the music, so there was no reason to purchase belly buds or belly headphones, whatever they are called anyways.  We'll take option two and have my wife listen to music like normal in the car.  We think it's important for our daughter to be able to recognize all kinds of music from ABBA to Frank Zappa.  There will be a test within the first year and I'm a very strict tester.

Like I said before, there is no proof that any of this really works.  Just think, if it does, I can soothe my crying and screaming baby with The Temptations and Clash, rather than Barney and the Wiggles.  Whatever works is fine, but I'd like to enjoy what we're hearing as well.  I'll need soothing too.

Don't Forget The Butt Paste

Since January 30th, was both the NHL All-Star game and the NFL Pro-Bowl, we decided to go register for baby stuff.  Basically, I wasn't upset as a sports fan, because all-star games are a waste of time.  My wife, myself and my mother, who has "baby fever" went.  She will be a first time Grandmother, so she's out of her mind, in a good way. 

We all meet up after some miscommunication, well, not really, my Mom got it in her head that we were going to Target.  She thinks we're going to let her babysit, everyone is under "double secret probation."  If you can't remember where we're going, what makes me think you'd remember the baby?  That's a question I ask myself everyday, like I'm cramming for a test.  When in doubt answer "C," and when in doubt, don't forget the baby.

We get all situated with the Babies "R" Us book "that you must follow" and the handy dandy gun.  You give me a gun like object and it's the Wild West circa 1881.  I turn into Dork Holliday, looking to take on any 16-24 month old in the store.  I had a nice stare down with a little punk in the toy aisle, but I let him off the hook after realizing he was looking at the Elmo doll behind me.  Lucky for him, I'm very quick on the draw, he got off easy.  Next time, I'm taking him down.

I'm going to throw this out right here.  I hated registering for our wedding.  I don't like picking things out for myself.  I know in a way registering for the baby is still picking stuff out for yourself, but for me, it was more fun....to a point.  After awhile it did become ridiculous.  The prices, the amount of stuff that the baby needs and just everything else.  The book is designed to take you through the entire store from back to front.  It's very clever in it's layout.  For new parents that don't know anything, you just click on everything.  Luckily, my Mom was there and we have other things from family already waiting for us.  Not much, but some things.

The prices are nuts.  You can get this stroller/car seat/diaper changer/bath tub for $15,000.  For people that don't believe that Transformers really exist, go to a Babies "R" Us.  Cribs that transform into beds and strollers that have a car seat attachment.  The people that invented Pack N Plays smoked some heavy duty weed to come up with that thing.  The baby can nap here, get their diapers changed, do long division and workout in the private gym.  Technology is just fascinating.  Still the thing costs $32,000 and you need three of them.

I couldn't figure out if registering for a baby should be a game show or an Olympic event.  The prices would make the game show the hardest ever.  It would be like Showcase Showdown on the Prices Right.  "Your bid for the baby's nursery is incorrect, the correct answer is closer to the National Debt."  The Olympic event would be who could take the fastest route, while still registering for the most stuff, based on importance.  Baby stuff is the way to go, because if you make a half decent product, you'll sell hundreds of thousands of units.  No questions asked.  The baby must have it, especially if it's trendy.

By the way, we forgot the Butt Paste, but will put it on the registry, because it's supposed to be good stuff and also to see if anyone will buy it. 

Survey Says....It's A Girl!

My wife and I found out yesterday that we're having a girl.  Some tests we had done came back and we were able to find out what the sex was going to be.  All the tests came back great by the way.  We always imagined ourselves as boy parents, but once we heard it was a girl, we were thrilled.  No disappointment at all.  I've personally always said that I just want a healthy baby, like the average expectant father, but after hearing this news, I knew I wasn't full of crap.  Which is great, because I'm full of crap in other areas, so it's a relief that I truly believe that all I want is a healthy baby.  

I know my main job as father to a girl is to "keep her off the pole," as Chris Rock likes to say.  If that's all you do, you've done a good job.  I've said this before, but it's burned into my brain.  The other thing I've had burned into my brain and maybe a reason why my wife and I wanted a boy is, with a boy all you have to worry about is one dick.  With a girl, you have to worry about all of them.  Childish and juvenile, I know, but still very true.  We'll cross that path when we get to it.  We're not going to rush anything, it all happens fast enough.  

Our little girl will probably come out of the womb with a book in hand, talking about hockey, baseball, The Clash, obscure 80's one-hit wonders, fuzzy animals and getting ready to wrestle and practice MMA.  That's basically a combination of our personalities in a small nutshell.  We're excited for the journey, no matter what happens.  Just happy to be along for the ride.  I think we'll have a great time going through all the ups and downs of parenthood, knowing there's no right or wrong way to do things.  As long as we're active parents.

I'm already a sappy Dad.

My Wife Can Eat More Than Your Wife

Yes, it's a rare weekend entry from me, but I just had to.  We woke up early (for us), to get my wife's oil changed in her car.  Which means we go out for breakfast.  We like to go to Newport Creamery, which is a local chain in RI.  They are like Friendly's, but I think, they are more consistent in service and quality of food.

We get to the restaurant and are told to sit anywhere we like.  I love when it's still early enough to do this.  They won't be too busy and we'll get great service and food, which we did.  We're looking at our menus and I'm not sure why?  We've been here a million times and we usually get pretty much the same thing every time.  Our waitress comes over to take our drink orders and I'm about to give my food order, but my wife isn't ready.  She's looking for as much food as she can get in one meal.  Our first restaurant breakfast since she's been pregnant.  This should be interesting.

Our waitress comes back, after giving us a few more minutes.  My wife is ready.  She'll have the breakfast called the "Holy Cow."  Which consists of: Three eggs, 2 pancakes or french toast, 3 sausage, 3 bacon, an English muffin or toast and breakfast potatoes.  It kinda looks like this:

Add a third egg, sausage and another plate for French toast

Then I was asked what I wanted to eat.  I meekly answered, "A short stack (2) of blueberry pancakes and some bacon...that's it."  I felt like such a wimp.  Camilla orders one of the largest breakfasts on the menu and I order the one, I usually have trouble finishing.  Which is why I only get 2 pancakes...they are filling, leave me alone. 

My wife is telling me she's hungry.  I keep telling her that the food is cooking.  It arrives a few minutes later and she tears into it.  After about twenty minutes of carnage, I actually finish my little breakfast.  It was quite the achievement for me.  Looking across the table at Camilla's plates, the only thing she didn't eat was a small burnt piece of her English muffin and her drink.  Total devastation.  We pay our waitress, who wishes us a happy holiday.  We thank her for everything , jump in the car and check the phone to see if garage called.  No messages.

We decide to try to get the couple of errands we have, done before the car is ready.  I ask my wife the question I already know the answer to, as I put the car in drive.  "How was your breakfast?"  She replies with an unexpected answer, "I'm still kinda hungry."  I just stare and drive.