it ain’t easy being me ...

stuck inside on a night when people are giving free candy to costumed strangers. dad has assured me that we will participate next year. his idea is that the three of us will dress up as popeye, olive oyl & sweet pea. he is convinced that this is an extremely clever concept … here’s hoping that i get to be popeye. if anyone asked me I would suggest that the three of us gear up as follows:

• me … peanut
• dad … butter
• mom … jelly

what visa campaign ...

childbirth/child-care classes ... $125
infant CPR / lactation education ... $65
standing in the rain for the YMCA to run out of H1N1 vaccine ... free

a healthy baby boy ... priceless

star date 33 weeks - 4 days ...

that's right ... i know all about start trek. due largely to my web access i am fairly well versed in contemporary popular culture. before you judge me harshly please remember that my options are fairly limited in here. i can't remember the last time the bookmobile or the tumblebus came through. i am pretty much just swimming around in my own waste here people. sure ... i was able to order a funky lamp from ikea but i have no idea where to plug it in. along these lines ... assembling a desk with a hex wrench in the dark is not as easy as it sounds. i knew i should have gone with the laptop.

there it is again ...

i like it when we drive mom's car on the weekend. it usually means that the stereo is left playing something good and i get a taste of some sweet sounds before she switches the dial to public radio. dad's sonic selection of late has been the yonder mountain string band. this is just fine with me ... they were my first concert after all. technically i did attend the dickey betts' show in the park ... but i don't think it counts as my ears had not developed at that time.

how embarrassing ...

last night we attended our THIRD baby-class of the week [childbirth, child care & infant CPR]. the parents-to-be introduced themselves and guess what i heard? there was another "blake" in the class! i can't imagine having such a common name. i sure hope mom and dad are considering that and will grant me with a unique identification. this morning i heard some people talking about guys named soupy and paisley ... those are nice names.

let's get started ...

finally !!! you can’t even imagine how long it takes to get an in-utero wireless connection in Central Pennsylvania.

it is great to have the ability to communicate with you all. i look forward to meeting you real soon ... but in the interim this will have to do. my technical support staff assures me that we will have the capability to skype from the hospital. convincing the risk management folks could be a challenge.

i feel a nap coming on but before i go i would like to share the following thoughts.

a few things I am excited about …

• seeing my mom [from the outside] from what I hear … she is beautiful
• halloween … not sure that I fully understand the ritual but i've heard talk of knifing gourds and free sugar … more on that later
• the Hawkeye bowl game ... did you think i was going to back the lions just because i will be born in happy valley ?
  

& some concerns …

• i understand that my kind is prone to mistakes and messes. this morning dad seemed a bit perturbed by the fact that he had to clean up cat barf and feed the chickens before going to work. he has no idea the chores and messes he is in for.
• continuing with the chicken theme … we heard our first official “cock-a-doodle-doo” this morning. this sound signaled mom’s turn to be upset. she has no idea the sounds she is in for.