I would say the only place I fear swimming in deep water is the ocean, mostly because all the rules for swimming in the ocean have been drilled into me since I was old enough to walk, and one of them is "never swim in deep water unless there's someone watching you from a nearby boat or dock." In a lake or a pool, I know I can get to land in any direction if I swim far enough. The ocean, NSM.

Aw! I can't believe he's that big already.

I know! I'm struck on a regular basis how amazing it is that there's this little guy with his own personality who came from, well, nothing. It's the most ordinary thing in the world, but it's also mindblowingly profound. I get all Up With People when I think about it.

Babies!

The shirt I'm wearing (in red): [link]

I fear no water. But I grew up near the ocean!

OK, I forgot I do need to actually get some work done here. Oops.

no fear of deep water.

I am guessing if I ever get to see the Lillybean in person I"ll just spend all my time watching her face.

I don't fear deep water, but when I learned to swim, the whole pool was over my head. Also, I float, and have to make an effort to sink.

I do fear sharks, though, which is my main reason for not wanting to swim where the ocean is deep. This may be irrational. However, as I haven't been near swimmable ocean since 1992, I'm okay with it.

In a lake or a pool, I know I can get to land in any direction if I swim far enough. The ocean, NSM.

I would have said this, and then I moved to Detroit.

I don't mind swimming in deep water (although I kinda hate swimming). I just mind swimming where I can't just up and quit in a minute or two without drowning.

Speaking of things on the radio, a podcast lady today said that American food styles have been changed by immigration, globalisation and celebrity chefs. Have celeb chefs really made much of a difference to the average American? She then cited fruited brisket and some latke variant, and I'm thinking, no, not being served for Sunday dinner across the nation...

That is one amazingly beautiful kid, Plei.

Corwood, isn't it wild how fast they become humans? We're 9 months next week, and I'm not sure where the time went.

No kidding! (and once again, I'm off singing Up With People songs)

We've been co-sleeping with Li'l Sphere since he was born and are trying to transition him to the crib now that the holiday travelling is over. We haven't yet made it all the way through a night.

They're practical! They allow you to go from a fitted small waist to an unhindered hip in a lined business-like pant.

ah, but this assumes a small waist.

I love that I got up early enough to be posting with Nilly today. Hi Nilly!

Hil - German WWI uniforms: [link]

German Collection Militaria: [link]

Later than the period you want, but German WWII reenactor supply: [link]

What might be really useful is this genealogical mailing list having to do with the German military: [link]

Oh, and I'm not afraid of deep water, either, which is also probably from growing up near a large body of water. When I was in high school, I used to go night swimming in the Gulf of Mexico with friends fairly often. Sometimes within hours of watching Jaws.