(Yeah, I get right down to the really important stuff, huh?)

JZ, are you talking about Rev. Run?

We saw that fire at 5th and Harrison -- well, no, we saw the big plume of smoke during our staff meeting. Had to stop the meeting, which is on a telecon, so we could all go stand in the window and stare. I was amazed we didn't hear any sirens.

ION, I am in love with the Clorox Bleach Pen. I rank it second only to the miracle powers of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

And to round out the holy trinity, the Scrubbing Bubbles.

Jesse, yes, I have, but the news story I read didn't say anything about Run, just somebody named Williams who had been a rap artist. The name meant utterly nothing to me -- I couldn't name one individual member of most bands, of any genre, except the Beatles and the Stones, and I'm pretty shaky on the Stones once you get past Mick and Keith. I can't even name a single Decemberist, and I love the Decemberists. So, nope, the man's name pinged nothing in me; it just gut-punched me that his wife went into labor right when I did, and that I have this beautiful, beautiful child and they have a big black hole.

And, crap. Now that I know exactly which rapper he is/was, I'll probably never be able to listen to Run DMC again without puddling up.

Cindy, she's so pretty. None of the pictures so far do her any kind of justice. I'm not an exhibitionist at all, but damn, I want someone to hover over my shoulder and take pictures while she's breastfeeding; she just looks so lovely, her little neck all stretched out, her entire head cupped in my hand, her long elegant fingers flexing and waving, very intent and focused on her task (a difficult one for a not-quite-term baby) but with this milk-stoned/blissed-out look in her eyes.

And she's an incredibly easy baby -- doesn't fuss much, is easily consoled (she just interrupted this post with a wet diaper and bleated all through the change, but one pass up and down the hallway afterward totally soothed her; I pointed out the pictures of Emmett and of teenage David and his parents, her grandparents, and her own image in the full-length mirror at the end of the hall, and she goggled at everything very attentively, tenting her fingers under her chin, and now she's on the Boppy on my lap glancing back and forth between the scrreen and me).

She sleeps a lot during the day, which makes nighttimes a little rough but does allow for a lot of compensatory napping and stuff-doing by daylight. And when she's out, she's deeply out -- you can go about your business, including clattery stuff like putting away dishes or even accidentally dropping one, and she doesn't care (she passed her hearing screen, so that's not an issue; she's just a sound sleeper). No jaundice. She's already nursing with some degree of competence. She scratches up her face a good bit with her tiny nails, but the scratches disappear almost instantly, so clearly she has Slayer-like healing powers.

In short, obviously a genius, a saint, a deep thinker, and possibly a Chosen One. I only hope that when the other Potentials track her down and help her fulfil her destiny, she remembers to introduce her mom to Giles.

From awhile back:

In a FOCUS ON ME NOW question, does anyone have any experience with or knowledge of an antibiotic called Avelox?

I'm pretty sure that's what my doctor prescribed for my bronchitis. But considering I took the last one over a week ago and I'm still coughing, I'm unclear on what it was actually supposed to do.

JZ, most babies have their nights and days turned around at first. They eventually get it figured out. She sounds so gorgeous and you sound smitten (natch!). I love the Jesus pose--when they are so deeply asleep their arms fall back up beside their head. So. Freakin'. Cute.

ION, I am in love with the Clorox Bleach Pen. I rank it second only to the miracle powers of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

And to round out the holy trinity, the Scrubbing Bubbles

Seriously-- the scrubbing bubbles spray thingee and the bleach pen and the magic eraser-- that's how I clean my shower. I love that I can just wipe the magic eraser on some brownish grout and it immediately gets better. Fucking ridonkulous.

And, crap. Now that I know exactly which rapper he is/was, I'll probably never be able to listen to Run DMC again without puddling up.

Sorry.

I love the Jesus pose--when they are so deeply asleep their arms fall back up beside their head.

Also known as "Steve Holt!"