Breaking the Log Jam

So, it's been a busy buncha weeks, no surprise. Starting with Thanksgiving, when I posted a teaser and never got to the follow-up, various (and sundry) things have resulted in a general lack of posting - so, Sorry! Thanksgiving blended into a busy first half of December, culminating in my trip to Tel Aviv (as some of you guessed) and Christi's first week caring for Margot alone. The second half of December blew past as we recovered and then prepared for the holidays, and we've been with Christi's folks on Nantucket since Friday. Don't you worry, we've accomplished Margot's first Xmas - with over 500 photos snapped, so it's well documented. And that's ignoring the ice dam and water damage at home that our neighbor called about! (No big deal for us, in the end - but thanks to my folks for going to check it out!)

Topics I'm hoping to somehow find more time to post on or at least share top photos:

• Thanksgiving photos with the McKernan side of the family
  
• Margot's amazing progress and development
  
• More photos from Tel Aviv
  
• Margot's astounding development and progress
  
• Nantucket/Christmas photos
  
• Jolly vs. The Atlantic Ocean
  
• Etc
  

Thanks Again

It just occurred to me that I've sent news of Margot's birth to friends and family across the country and on four continents. I've gotten responses within minutes to messages, and shared pictures with people all over the place. I already commented that we had wireless internet access in the hospital room. I've uploaded photos to a web service and had them send film-quality prints to relatives within days, basically for the cost of shipping. Not to mention all of the baby information and even, yes, consumer product information that I've gotten from the 'net.

We've heard over and over in the past nine-plus months that being pregnant, giving birth, and raising children just isn't the same as it used to be. The breakdown of the physical proximity of most families, of the connected spirit of local communities, supposedly has interrupted our connection to the knowledge, experience, and love of our elders and peers.

Well, lemme tell ya - it has been absolutely incredible to feel the outpouring of spirit from everyone who's been connected here or in email or otherwise. The gifts and advice and just plain help we've received from all quarters - the closest family members, to folks who really don't need to go out of their way but do - all of this just really adds up to a deep feeling of gratitude and connection. So, hopefully again, THANKS! It really matters, perhaps especially when we're on the tired end of the day. Hopefully soon we'll have a bit more external energy to share some more detailed responses and news with more of you directly . . . we can't wait for Margot to meet you all!

Now, who knows someone I can email on those other three continents? (South America, Africa, Antarctica)

A New Beginning

(or two)

So - the last time I started thinking about doing this Blog thing, I got it set up but never publicized. And I lost momentum. So here we are - two and a half years later, and I have some excuses to try again.

Maybe I'll try to fill in some of the details along the way. I guess we'll see. The more folks read and comment here, the more I'll know whether it's a worthwhile thing to keep up. However, the first new headline practically writes itself.

Christi and I are expecting a baby in September! (That's 2007, in case this is the last post for another two-and-a-half years.)

So - I won't dwell for now, but I'm thinking of the blog as a vehicle for helping to spread the news and document how it all unfolds for me/us. Check back and find out, or bug me if I haven't lived up to this hope!

First Post!

OK - so the idea here is to try out a simple interface for publishing some of my thoughts, interests, and news to whoever cares.

I'm not thinking right off that this will be a high-volume or rapidly-updating site, but I've been wanting for a while to have a place for little announcements and thoughts that don't seem important enough to figure out who to email about them . . . So, welcome to a rolling experiment in sharing a bit of my life.

In other words, the usual narcissistic crap! Welcome to the Web.