Family Matters, Week of 11-20-05

Every week I do a family rundown. Welcome to it.

Annie

Annie is currently obsessed with Christmas. This is the first year she?s became aware that the big day is coming, and that the big day brings with it surprises, presents, and Santa Claus. I?m sure the Christmas tree tipped her off. Or the unstoppable marketing force of children?s toys.

Of course, the tree itself is a source of parental discomfort. One morning Ericka found two of the ornaments smashed into the carpet, their sharp glass housing spread all over the carpet.

Needless to say, Annie?s butt didn?t escape unscathed. We?ve tried hard not to have a ?parentally handicapped? Christmas tree, you know the kind where the ornaments and decoration begin about 3 feet off the ground?just out of tiny hand range. It?s important for them to be used to the idea of ornaments and things hanging on it, and to learn the rule of leaving those things alone. We had a few rough days, but I believe they now have developed a healthy fear of mucking with the tree.

One can only hope, anyway.

Otherwise, she is obsessed with a Magic Glow Doodle Bear, while I?d rather get her the New Teddy Ruxpin Care Bear. And if you don?t know who Teddy Ruxpin is, perhaps you weren?t paying attention in the 80?s. It was a toy bear with a cassette player in the back which ?told stories? via mouth movements when it produced sound from the cassette. Of course the cassettes have been replaced by memory sticks, but the nostalgia is almost overpowering.

And I loved Teddy Ruxpin as a kid and was fiercely jealous when I didn?t get one. So maybe that one?s more for me?

Abby

Abby lives in Abby Land, not unlike Candy Land, where each colored square is another book, TV show, or playtime activity. Sometimes she ends up in the dark land of licorice, usually by destroying a few DVDs or fighting with her sister.

The other day Ericka took Annie for some get-together selling Mary Kay like beauty products. Me and Abby had the entire evening to ourselves, a good 4?5 hours of father/daughter time. And I loved it. It was great to spend time with my baby, just me and her, not worrying about including her sister in on every activity. We watched some TV, she jumped on the bed as much as she wanted, we read and played and didn?t worry about anyone or anything else.

If this all seems sugary sweet, that?s because it is. And I?m so very blessed to have my girls.

Ericka (her blog)

Ericka, when not not writing on her blog, is busy making cheesecakes. Lots of them. Apparently her masterful caramel cheescake went over like gangbusters with the local restaurant manager, quote unquote: ?The best cheescake I?ve ever eaten.? Which, needless to say, bodes well for her chances in striking up a 3+ cakes per week order from them. Which would be very welcome in the Erwin household budget.

Otherwise she?s making cakes for other folks and will be delivering some of those tonight. At this point there?s this weird feeling of The Beginning Of Something, where I can feel Ericka is on the cusp of something fabulous. I?m thinking 2006 will be a gangbuster year for Ab and Anne?s Sweets (as we?re calling it), and the fear of the unknown is definitely here. Things like how to advertise or how to market her (amazing) products. God knows I read enough marketing blogs to make anyone sick of how to sell-sell-sell, and I?ve written up a little flyer already. We?ll see how things progress on this front.

If the new venture keeps getting more and more popular, it may even need a blog of its own. We?ll see.

Etc.

Here is my weekly list of good things you should check out:

? Question to the World: The World in 10 Years? ? My good friend Shel needs some solid responses on this. I?ve included my own, with such revelations as biometric advances and the lack of a flying car. Feel free to add your own.

? Foldershare ? Okay, I admit I?m skittish about keeping my files online (who isn?t?), and this is the service Microsoft hopes to bring to the world. I?m sure I?ll try this out soon.

? 10 Blog Posting Ideas ? For some reason all I can see is ?#1 Cliche? ?#2 Cliche!?, but in the end, we must fall back on the old time classics, like top 10 lists (and irony), to keep our good blogs going strong. I see these as the topics that rest behind the emergency glass: Break open only when absolutely necessary.

? Uber Christmas Lights Show ? Holy?cow. Watch and awe.

? Meebo ? AJAX-based IM programs. WOW!

And?that?s all for me. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Something?s happening, don?t speak too soon
Told the boss off and made my move