We took Benjamin to his pediatrician today for his two month check up. He is now two feet tall (long?), his head measures 15.5 inches and he weighs 13.5 pounds. All very normal for his age. He checked out well, and then the tough part loomed after his check up. Shots. Three of them. DPT (Diptheria), HIB (Haemophilus Influenzae) and Polio. He cried for a bit, then settled down and was asleep after I put him in his car seat. He may be a bit cranky tonight as this stuff kicks in but the pediatrician said by tomorrow morning he'll be back to his usual self.
This hurt me more than it hurt Benjamin. I'm ok now :)
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Reflections
Dear Family and Friends,
It’s that time of year where we reflect back on the year and how truly we are thankful for the many blessings we have had. We hope that this note finds you and your loved ones feeling lucky and as blessed as we do this holiday season.
As you know, Benjamin Michael was born on October 25 at 9:51 AM and he checked in weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. He is very active and healthy and the love and joy of our lives. Our good Lord has answered our prayers and we’re now enjoying our baby boy and quite thrilled at parenthood.
Benjamin is growing fast and weighs a little over 10 pounds now. He is very alert and receptive to what’s going on around him. He loves music to which he falls asleep fast once he hears his favorite tunes. He's also getting the early scoops about sports –football, baseball, soccer–-Saturday morning we make sure to catch the English Premier League match via Fox Soccer Channel. He's also becoming a Redskins fan too. They've won four in a row when he wears his 'Skins outfit as seen in an earlier on this blog ;)
We’ll give you more updates on Benjamin as we embark in this new chapter in our lives.
Weena, Benjamin and I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a healthy and Happy New Year! Thank you all for your love, support and friendship.
With all our love,
Bill, Weena & Benjamin
It’s that time of year where we reflect back on the year and how truly we are thankful for the many blessings we have had. We hope that this note finds you and your loved ones feeling lucky and as blessed as we do this holiday season.
As you know, Benjamin Michael was born on October 25 at 9:51 AM and he checked in weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. He is very active and healthy and the love and joy of our lives. Our good Lord has answered our prayers and we’re now enjoying our baby boy and quite thrilled at parenthood.
Benjamin is growing fast and weighs a little over 10 pounds now. He is very alert and receptive to what’s going on around him. He loves music to which he falls asleep fast once he hears his favorite tunes. He's also getting the early scoops about sports –football, baseball, soccer–-Saturday morning we make sure to catch the English Premier League match via Fox Soccer Channel. He's also becoming a Redskins fan too. They've won four in a row when he wears his 'Skins outfit as seen in an earlier on this blog ;)
We’ll give you more updates on Benjamin as we embark in this new chapter in our lives.
Weena, Benjamin and I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a healthy and Happy New Year! Thank you all for your love, support and friendship.
With all our love,
Bill, Weena & Benjamin
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Redskins Come Up Huge!
Redskins 35 Giants 20
Santana Moss delivered joy to Redskins fans this afternoon. 5 catches, 160 yards and 3 touchdowns to help lead the Redskins to victory over the Giants. A little payback from the 36-0 shellacking they took in New York on October 30th.
What can you say about this game? Joe Gibbs is 4-0 this December and 56-18 overall in his coaching career in games played in December and January. QB Mark Brunell sprained his knee early in the second half with the Redskins ahead 21-17. You figure the 'Skins were toast right? Not this day. Patrick Ramsey filled in admirably, completing 5 of 7 passes for 104 yards including a 72 yard TD pass to Moss in the third quarter. (Brunell could miss next weekend's final game in Philly though. MRI Monday)
Clinton Portis rushed for 108 yards, including a 17 yard TD pass to Chris Cooley in the second quarter. I could go on and on but the Redskins work isn't complete just yet. The 9-6 Redskins will clinch at least a wild card berth if they win at Philadelphia in next week's regular-season finale. They will win the NFC East with a win and a Giants loss at Oakland.
Six years is a long time to go between post season appearances. For this fan, I don't care how they get in. Wild card, division champ, whatever. Just get in.
Santana Moss delivered joy to Redskins fans this afternoon. 5 catches, 160 yards and 3 touchdowns to help lead the Redskins to victory over the Giants. A little payback from the 36-0 shellacking they took in New York on October 30th.
What can you say about this game? Joe Gibbs is 4-0 this December and 56-18 overall in his coaching career in games played in December and January. QB Mark Brunell sprained his knee early in the second half with the Redskins ahead 21-17. You figure the 'Skins were toast right? Not this day. Patrick Ramsey filled in admirably, completing 5 of 7 passes for 104 yards including a 72 yard TD pass to Moss in the third quarter. (Brunell could miss next weekend's final game in Philly though. MRI Monday)
Clinton Portis rushed for 108 yards, including a 17 yard TD pass to Chris Cooley in the second quarter. I could go on and on but the Redskins work isn't complete just yet. The 9-6 Redskins will clinch at least a wild card berth if they win at Philadelphia in next week's regular-season finale. They will win the NFC East with a win and a Giants loss at Oakland.
Six years is a long time to go between post season appearances. For this fan, I don't care how they get in. Wild card, division champ, whatever. Just get in.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Benjamin and Daddy
This afternoon Benjamin was taking his daily nap. It's rare that I am home in the afternoon during the work week, so I spent a lot of this time today just simply watching him sleep. I had the digital camera handy, so I had Weena snap this shot. This little guy amazes me more and more each day.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
2005 Happenings
Dave talks about the best concerts he saw in 2005 in his blog. I didn't get out to many concerts this past year as Weena and I were preparing for Benjamin's arrival, but here is one I went to compliments of XM Satellite Radio
I got this in my e-mail in early February 2005.
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU have been selected for the audience at XM Satellite Radio's Performance Theater in Washington, DC for a special performance from NILS LOFGREN Thursday, February 24th at the XM Satellite Radio Performance Theater, Washington, DC
So here is my recap of that afternoon:
28 years ago in the spring of 1977 I saw Nils Lofgren perform for the first time. I was in ninth grade, age fifteen and the show was at Georgetown University’s McDonough Gym. A bunch of us from the Wood Acres neighborhood in Bethesda MD either hitch hiked or took a bus to the show. Now I don’t remember a whole lot about that show as one, it was 28 years ago and two, well I won’t go into what else I was enjoying that night. I do remember Nils’s energy that night and how awesome it was being at my first concert.
Over the years as I grew up, I would catch Nils whenever I could. I’ve seen him at various clubs in the DC metro area. Places that no longer exist like the Psyche Delly in Bethesda, the Bayou in Georgetown. Current venues like The Birchmere. Outside venues like a park in Frederick MD whose name escapes me and on G Street near MCI Center. Of course I’ve seen him numerous times over the years with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
To this day, I still get pumped up whenever Nils is in concert. Perhaps it is because his music has always gotten me through good and bad, happy and sad times in my life. Maybe it is his energy and devotion while he is on stage. Or it could be that he is one of the most fan friendly people out there, always graciously signing autographs and chatting with fans after his shows.
I thought I’ve seen it all until yesterday.
Thirty Nils Lofgren fans were invited to XM Satellite Radio’s Performance Theater for a recording session that will be broadcast later on XM. After a long wait, while the technicians got the theater ready, XM Radio’s Mike Marrone greeted us. Mike is Program Director of XM’s acoustic music channel, The Loft.
A little over a year ago, Nils sat down with Mike and discussed his career and played in studio. This was one of the best interview sessions with Nils I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. Mike gave us a little tour of the XM studios, telling us that Bob Dylan's two favorite stations were Hank's Place, a station that plays a lot of country music and Bluesville. Someone asked Mike if The Loft was one of Dylan's favorites and he joked and said not really because Mike played a lot of Dylan.
He also told us this wouldn’t be like a club setting, that sometimes in the middle of the song, Nils could stop and make adjustments and start the song over. The session would be a lot like the "Authorized Bootleg" album we listened to growing up.
We were seated and Nils arrived to a warm applause and settled down. While warming up we were treated to a few riffs of "Rusty Gun", a great song from his days as a member of Grin.
Then the show started. I’ll post the set list after this note. Nils played a lot of the old classic tunes we know and love. He played a couple Bruce Springsteen songs, including “If I Should Fall Behind”, a personal favorite of mine. He also gave us a new song called “In Your Hands” who he wrote for his wife Amy when, according to Nils, he forgot to get Amy a Christmas present so he wrote a song for her. During the show we also got a treat in his brother Tom Lofgren and Buck Brown joined in.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience and we got to see a lot of behind the scenes technical work that went on to produce this show. To be fifteen feet away and see a musical icon like Nils work his guitar is indescribable.
After the show Nils came out and chatted with us, posed for pictures and yours truly was able to get a set list signed by Nils. While he was signing, I told him that his version of “All I Have To Do Is Dream” off Breakaway Angel was outstanding and that my wife and I used this song for our first dance at our wedding. Nils was appreciative of that and he was very gracious to us all, thanking us for coming out and supporting him.
A month went by and I was able to make a trade for this CD. It's outstanding. If you would like a copy, please post a note in the comments section and I'll get one out to you.
The set list:
Gun and Run
Damaged Goods
You
If I Should Fall Behind
Wonderland
In Your Hands
Like Rain
Keith Don’t Go
Goin’ Back
Irish Angel
The Sun Hasn’t Set On This Boy Yet
Moon Tears
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Because The Night
No Mercy
I Came To Dance
Shine Silently
I got this in my e-mail in early February 2005.
CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU have been selected for the audience at XM Satellite Radio's Performance Theater in Washington, DC for a special performance from NILS LOFGREN Thursday, February 24th at the XM Satellite Radio Performance Theater, Washington, DC
So here is my recap of that afternoon:
28 years ago in the spring of 1977 I saw Nils Lofgren perform for the first time. I was in ninth grade, age fifteen and the show was at Georgetown University’s McDonough Gym. A bunch of us from the Wood Acres neighborhood in Bethesda MD either hitch hiked or took a bus to the show. Now I don’t remember a whole lot about that show as one, it was 28 years ago and two, well I won’t go into what else I was enjoying that night. I do remember Nils’s energy that night and how awesome it was being at my first concert.
Over the years as I grew up, I would catch Nils whenever I could. I’ve seen him at various clubs in the DC metro area. Places that no longer exist like the Psyche Delly in Bethesda, the Bayou in Georgetown. Current venues like The Birchmere. Outside venues like a park in Frederick MD whose name escapes me and on G Street near MCI Center. Of course I’ve seen him numerous times over the years with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
To this day, I still get pumped up whenever Nils is in concert. Perhaps it is because his music has always gotten me through good and bad, happy and sad times in my life. Maybe it is his energy and devotion while he is on stage. Or it could be that he is one of the most fan friendly people out there, always graciously signing autographs and chatting with fans after his shows.
I thought I’ve seen it all until yesterday.
Thirty Nils Lofgren fans were invited to XM Satellite Radio’s Performance Theater for a recording session that will be broadcast later on XM. After a long wait, while the technicians got the theater ready, XM Radio’s Mike Marrone greeted us. Mike is Program Director of XM’s acoustic music channel, The Loft.
A little over a year ago, Nils sat down with Mike and discussed his career and played in studio. This was one of the best interview sessions with Nils I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. Mike gave us a little tour of the XM studios, telling us that Bob Dylan's two favorite stations were Hank's Place, a station that plays a lot of country music and Bluesville. Someone asked Mike if The Loft was one of Dylan's favorites and he joked and said not really because Mike played a lot of Dylan.
He also told us this wouldn’t be like a club setting, that sometimes in the middle of the song, Nils could stop and make adjustments and start the song over. The session would be a lot like the "Authorized Bootleg" album we listened to growing up.
We were seated and Nils arrived to a warm applause and settled down. While warming up we were treated to a few riffs of "Rusty Gun", a great song from his days as a member of Grin.
Then the show started. I’ll post the set list after this note. Nils played a lot of the old classic tunes we know and love. He played a couple Bruce Springsteen songs, including “If I Should Fall Behind”, a personal favorite of mine. He also gave us a new song called “In Your Hands” who he wrote for his wife Amy when, according to Nils, he forgot to get Amy a Christmas present so he wrote a song for her. During the show we also got a treat in his brother Tom Lofgren and Buck Brown joined in.
All in all, it was a fantastic experience and we got to see a lot of behind the scenes technical work that went on to produce this show. To be fifteen feet away and see a musical icon like Nils work his guitar is indescribable.
After the show Nils came out and chatted with us, posed for pictures and yours truly was able to get a set list signed by Nils. While he was signing, I told him that his version of “All I Have To Do Is Dream” off Breakaway Angel was outstanding and that my wife and I used this song for our first dance at our wedding. Nils was appreciative of that and he was very gracious to us all, thanking us for coming out and supporting him.
A month went by and I was able to make a trade for this CD. It's outstanding. If you would like a copy, please post a note in the comments section and I'll get one out to you.
The set list:
Gun and Run
Damaged Goods
You
If I Should Fall Behind
Wonderland
In Your Hands
Like Rain
Keith Don’t Go
Goin’ Back
Irish Angel
The Sun Hasn’t Set On This Boy Yet
Moon Tears
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Because The Night
No Mercy
I Came To Dance
Shine Silently
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Couple random thoughts...
Redskins vs Giants, Saturday December 24, 2005 1:00 PM EST
It’s great to see the Redskins play a meaningful game in December for the first time since 1999 when they last made the playoffs. Tony Kornheiser calls this the biggest game in Fed Ex Field history. Regardless of the outcome of the Redskins-Giants game Saturday, it was sweet to see a Joe Gibbs led team thrash the hated Dallas Cowboys 35-7 on December 18. I felt twenty years younger on a day I turned 44 years old.
Our house resembles a battlefield as we have Christmas presents scattered all over the house. This will be Benjamin’s first Christmas and we want this to be special for him and us. He’ll turn two months old that day. In the past I’ve usually been Mr. Scrooge when it comes to Christmas. Not this year. I’ve even downloaded Christmas songs on my iPod to play when friends and relatives come over. We also plan to take a lot of photographs, so stay tuned.
It’s great to see the Redskins play a meaningful game in December for the first time since 1999 when they last made the playoffs. Tony Kornheiser calls this the biggest game in Fed Ex Field history. Regardless of the outcome of the Redskins-Giants game Saturday, it was sweet to see a Joe Gibbs led team thrash the hated Dallas Cowboys 35-7 on December 18. I felt twenty years younger on a day I turned 44 years old.
Our house resembles a battlefield as we have Christmas presents scattered all over the house. This will be Benjamin’s first Christmas and we want this to be special for him and us. He’ll turn two months old that day. In the past I’ve usually been Mr. Scrooge when it comes to Christmas. Not this year. I’ve even downloaded Christmas songs on my iPod to play when friends and relatives come over. We also plan to take a lot of photographs, so stay tuned.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Hey there!
I'll give this a shot. The title comes from a Nils Lofgren song which is a favorite of mine. I've followed Nils since junior high school and first saw him in concert at Georgetown University's McDonough Gymnasium in 1977. He's plays a mean guitar and is long time member of the E Street Band. For more on Nils, check him out at his web site.
Right now as I start this blog, a lot is going on in my life. My wife Edelwina (Weena for short) and I have a newborn son. When I first saw Benjamin on October 25, 2005, I didn't see a sheet of instructions that came with him. So both Weena and I are learning more and more each day as Benjamin grows. Stay tuned.
I'll have ramblings about sports, music and whatever else is going on. Enjoy!
Right now as I start this blog, a lot is going on in my life. My wife Edelwina (Weena for short) and I have a newborn son. When I first saw Benjamin on October 25, 2005, I didn't see a sheet of instructions that came with him. So both Weena and I are learning more and more each day as Benjamin grows. Stay tuned.
I'll have ramblings about sports, music and whatever else is going on. Enjoy!
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