Daddy blogger

Many people (OK, one person) have asked me if I would become a daddy blogger. I’ve been hesitant up until now. I didn’t want to include too much personal subject matter in the driftless area or patternless area. And it’s been hard to articulate all that’s happened in the past fourth months.

Besides, I didn’t want the Bjorn company to ply me with gifts and favors just so I would endorse their carrying devices. (Dear Bjorn people: I prefer the Original Classic model for its strong back support and sturdy buckles.)

I thought one blog approach might be to document some of the things I’ve learned since becoming a parent. I preface this by saying that this is what my experience has been like and I have no idea if it’s typical. The first thing you learn in going through this is that every experience is different—from pregnancy to labor to birth to baby and beyond. The minute you learn you might be a parent, you must check your expectations and judgments at the door. So here we go.

Probably the first thing I learned was how to be tired. And even that I haven’t fully learned yet. Thankfully, I had few duties outside of daddying in the early phases, so an upside-down sleep schedule was mostly OK. It’s incredible how a newborn engulfs your life—every minute of the day really. But still, on most occasions, her cries led me to spring up in even the most tired times. This takes on a new dimension when a 9-to-5 job is in the picture. The key is taking every opportunity to ingest sugar, caffeine and banned stimulants (the latter is a joke).

Putting aside your desires is something I’ve struggled with. At times, it’s easy—if there’s an emergency diaper change or spit up for example. But when the house is a mess, I’m just home from work and hungry and thirsty, it can be challenging to set everything aside and simply hold baby. This leads to becoming an expert at daydreaming, or a form of meditation, because there’s nothing else to do.

This also leads to a skill I’ve learned lately: one-handed cooking. I don’t think this is doctor recommended. But I can fix pasta, salads and grilled meats with the best of them. All while keeping the girl well away from flames, ovens and propane.

One of the things that concerned me pre-baby was taking care of basic life skills. I perceived bathing, diapering, dressing and feeding as really complicated. I mastered diapering and dressing at the hospital. Bathing and feeding were soon to follow.

One other surprising skill of late is not making eye contact. For weeks, we did all we could to get the baby’s attention, her focused gaze being a delightful achievement. As we try to sleep-train her, or get her to calm down in the car, it’s best to stare straight ahead woodenly. Last night, I actually ducked under her crib after putting her down, for fear of eye contact that could lead to further crying.

You also learn that all this craziness is rewarded with great joys. And in many ways, it's all going by way too fast.

See ya

I don't have much to say about last night's freak show, but here are three links that pretty much sum up my feelings. What I find interesting was how quiet my normally boisterous Facebook friends were last night. There are lots o friends in Cleveland, and no one even felt like posting anything about this mess.

We've experienced a lot of competitive heartbreak in Cleveland, but this is much more like when the Browns moved in '95 than any other disappointments. LeBron didn't even get us as close to the title as the '86 Browns, '87 Browns or '97 Indians. And he basically quit in his last series with the Cavs.

http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2010/07/whatever_his_voiced_reasons_it.html

http://nymag.com/daily/sports/2010/07/lebron_react_never_has_being_a.html?imw=Y&f=most-viewed-24h10

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/13618008/lebron-comes-out-looking-like-coward-not-king?tag=coverlist_footer;coverlist_photo_content

Recalling Mars

Sometimes I'm having a bad day, and then I think about this video. "I'm climbing ze mountains of Maaaaaars!"

Seeding doubt

This has been a great NCAA men's basketball tournament. I'm a longtime fan of upsets and underdogs, and there has been no shortage of those. In a strange twist, I'm actually looking forward to No. 1-seeded Kentucky meeting No. 2-seeded West Virginia today--it restores some order to the world. No doubt, though, I'm pleased that either No. 5 seed Michigan State or No. 6 seed Tennessee will go to the Final Four. And that Butler is playing for a Final Four berth today.

Still, you really must suspend belief to enjoy big-time college sports. These are not student-athletes vying for regional championships today. They are (mostly) minor-league basketball players who take a few classes on a college campus. It's a tired complaint, but it keeps coming up because the charm of the sport is so tied to the campus life that so many viewers and supporters remember. It's probably why we root for the upsets--the little schools are a bit more likely to have actual college students on the team.

Aspects of the book, "The Blind Side," recently made into the famous movie, seem to confirm the pseudo-student concept. In the book, the college football recruit's grades are propped up just before enrolling in college. With the help of a tutor, he aces several summer correspondence courses and tops the minimum grade point for college.

Let's face it: many big-time men's basketball coaches are maniacs. Basketball seems to breed these coaches more than other sports. Because the players come and go in a few years, and coaches stay, they become cult leaders. They can get away with anything, and their behavior reflects it. Several of these figures will be on display this weekend. It will be great entertainment, but it's best not to think too hard about it.

Fourth quarter

8:01 -- The Saints appear to have held on a big third down. But the Colts appear to be going for it.

8:02 -- And they get it on a pass to Reggie Wayne.

8:04 -- Former Ohio State star Malcolm Jenkins makes a tackle. I forgot he was even on the Saints.

8:05 -- Matt Stover, the ageless one, misses wide left on a 51-yard field goal try.

8:12 -- Saints driving again. This is looking pretty good for them. The clock is ticking fast.

8:13 -- Touchdown! Jeremy Shockey. Probably the most notable football accomplishment in his off-the-field focused career.

8:15 -- Saints fail on two-point conversion, though the replay shows Lance Moore came darn close to making the catch.

8:18 -- This is such a weird play, and the Saints are challenging it. I'm going to guess the Saints won't get the call.

8:19 -- Oh my, the Saints get the two points! They had so many calls go in their favor in the NFC Championship Game. Maybe they're charmed this year.

8:29 -- A big third down and Peyton Manning throws an interception! Tracy Porter returns it for a touchdown. The Saints are going to pull off the upset!

8:32 -- CBS has done a nice job of sticking with shots of the game when they could have shown us Kim Kardashian all night. We've hardly seen the French Quarter, the Manning family or sappy player profiles.

8:41 -- The Colts are scrambling, but I still don't see how they can tie this up.

8:42 -- Is there a more tired tradition than the Gatorade bath? Waiting for the inevitable...

8:43 -- Manning incomplete on fourth and goal (Reggie Wayne dropped it). The Saints have clinched it.

8:46 -- And the Saints have done it. Coach Skywalker is on the shoulders of his team. French Quarter is excited. I have to think Brees will win the MVP. The crows are roosting. Good night now!

Third quarter

7:22 -- Onside kick! One of the gutsiest calls in history!

7:23 -- Saints ball!

7:26 -- At the half, the analysts said the Saints should take to the air. They're doing that now, but I hope they still keep the running game going. It's the more sustainable approach.

7:27 -- Pierre Thomas! A beautiful catch and weaves his way into the end zone. Saints lead.

7:34 -- Seeking totals from the great storm of 2010? Here is a nice compilation from The Weather Channel.

7:34 -- I stand corrected regarding Phil Simms. He's been pretty good so far.

7:37 -- The Colts answer with a touchdown by Joseph Addai. Maybe we will see more offense in the second half.

7:38 -- The second half of the Super Bowl is actually about football. The first half is all about the commercials and the hype. Now we're down to football.

7:40 -- Pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in Illinois, has finally quit the race. Another ugly chapter in Illinois politics.

7:46 -- I like the Steve Tasker-Solomon Wilcots sideline reporting duo. CBS has mostly done away with NFL sideline reporters; it's refreshing to hear from two people who actually provide salient information.

7:50 -- Garrett Hartley makes a 47-yard field goal for the Saints. They trail by one.

7:52 -- Colts kicker Matt Stover (20 seasons) is the longest-tenured player in the game. Mark Brunell, Saints quarterback, is next with 17 seasons.

Second quarter

6:09 -- How shocking is this: Colts coach Jim Caldwell's record at Wake Forest was 26-63. If the first quarter is any indication, he's on his way to a Lombardi Trophy.

6:11 -- Yum, chicken cacciatore over cornmeal mush.

6:14 -- Here come the Saints!

6:15 -- Saints running back Pierre Thomas is from the Chicago area and played at Illinois.

6:17 -- I guess Dwight Freeney is healthy enough. The injured Colts defensive end just registered the first sack of the game.

6:22 -- What's with the themed commercials? First, elderly people getting tackled. And now consecutive commercials with pants-less people.

6:24 -- Is it "new or-lins" or "new or-lee-ins?" Phil Simms favors the latter.

6:32 -- I'll take the Saints' receivers over the Colts' receivers.

6:35 -- Big third and goal here. And it goes down to the two-minute warning.

6:37 -- Late second quarter diversion--check out the mascots for the Vancouver Winter Games: http://www.vancouver2010.com/mascot/en/meet.php.

6:39 -- The Saints' Mike Bell slips and it appears the Colts have held. Unless Coach Skywalker goes for it...

6:42 -- And they are going for it! Gary Brackett stuffs Pierre Thomas. This could be a turning point, but you have to give the Saints credit for going for it.

6:50 -- The Saints get the ball back and put up a field goal. Not too bad of an outcome after the fourth-down failure.