Grand Archives

This dress + hat was handmade by DeeAnna Dennis. Amazing. Magdelana's pleasure is evident. Very cool.

Loves showers. Loves to dine. Loves to dine in the shower. What a life.

Pet Peeve Notes:
1 | people who list pet peeves. so juvenile.
2 | people asking if "she's good." what do you mean, is she good? she's seven weeks old! when she's hungry, she cries. when she wants her diaper changed, she cries. when she feels like crying, she cries. there is not one second of her existence that I have not enjoyed, nor has there been a millisecond when I would describe her as "not good."
3 | I refuse to acknowledge whether or not I have ever asked another parent that question.

Loves music. Band of Horses, Beethoven, Duke Ellington, Donovan, her dad. Loves to be sung to.

Post-delivery, the only song I could think to sing on the car ride home was "Tomorrow." The adorable little orphan song from Annie. After seven weeks I still only know about two lines, but I hum/rap/sing that couplet to Maggie about 30 times a day and she seems to dig it.

Prime time: 7-10 am. Been smiling a lot. Huge. Quite the comedian. Favorite trick: (note: also only trick): pooping 20 seconds after diaper has been changed and entire new clean outfit has been dutifully buttoned up.

Have to mention a quick something about my buddy Chad up in Puyallup. Only met him last week actually, but when three hours of intense A-Z music conversation melts away like mint chocolate chip on a sugarcone, you know you got something special. Evening's end found ourselves parting with a handshake, a hug, and a new buddy. And in my case, a new unreleased press of Grand Archives, which freaking ROCKS! In a very quiet, melancholy way that is reminiscent of early-R.E.M.

Have to go.

Listening:
Grand Archives EP
Donovan Pied Piper
Albert Hammond Yours To Keep
Mozart
How to Learn French

Video : Magdelana Assists Jonny

Click here to play video of M and Uncle working.

Video: Magdelana's Favorite Band

Uncle Jeremy and the Colorblind Soldiers rehearsing
"Remember You Remember Me."

shot by joseph.

Hippety, and the Essence of Gertrude Stein

As I was dancing my way around the living room with M, listening to Moonlight Sonata for the 7000th time of my existence, I had two thoughts about parenthood. Two rights you renounce, or perhaps attitudes/behaviors you deprioritize. Or should, if your kid's well-being is is atop the Important Things in Life list.

1. You lose the right to be self-destructive. Out: BASE jumping (for a while anyway), John Daniels for breakfast, passing on blind spots, not flossing daily.

2. You lose the right to (try to) be hip. Not that it's troubled me greatly since around age 16 (at which point I had already tried, and failed mightily, though I still think my twin obsessions with Queensryche and Paula Abdul the Musician should qualify me for some pre-ironic hipster cred. Anyway. These thoughts were spurred by oversaturated memories of Moonlight Sonata. A beautifully ferocious little ditty, but one that Ludwig himself probably tired of after hearing over and over and over. And over.

But is M.S. a poor piece of music because I've heard it too much? No! Does my daughter lose the right to enjoy a beautiful composition because I'm tired of it? No! One of the elusive characteristics of hip is its ability to shift and jive and stay on the forefront of what's new and fresh and different. But I have a child now who doesn't know anything aside from how to eat, sleep, and make simultaneous body noises from different exit points. She hasn't experienced any of the art or music I have and she deserves to, regardless of how unexcited I might be at the prospect of wading through drivel again. Are we going to listen to Charlie Parker, Anna Oxygen, and the Dropkick Murphys? (i.e. what I like now?) Yes. Are we going to listen to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Kids Praise Sing, and Für Elise? (i.e. what's not at the top of my chosen playlist?) Uhhh, yesss. And it's all gonna be worth when it brings THAT smile (see below image).

There is a freedom and joy in rediscovery. Flight from hipness is very hip. Gertrude Stein said that, or me did.

We are having such a grand time.

Gute nacht.

Video: Chinese lessons

Click here to play movie of Magdelana studying Mandarin.

Quite sure the pronunciation is flawless. Private lessons are available, beginning at $75 per half hour + lunch. '08 Olympics, here we come.

Listening:
Brazilian Girls
Beethoven
Jose Gonzalez

34 Years

Lee + Sue on their wedding day. Somehow this seemed more appropriate than my father's favorite wedding night photo.
Life on the open road. Magdelana took her first trip to the Oregon Coast this week past while I was shooting. Major highlight was rocking out with the Colorblind Soldiers. She is quite enamored of their music, which is good because they don't suck anymore.

Seriously, they are starting to sound pretty freaking good. The adventurous stripped-down rock&roll of Spoon coupled with occasional intervals into Muse bombast, and perhaps iced with the intense DIY of the Moldy Peaches. More on CBS later.

Today, M's grandparents have been married 34 years. Which is good. Because if they hadn't gotten hitched and spawned Joseph (me), then she wouldn't be here today. She's immensely fortunate to have them in her life, and enjoys expressing her love by spitting up and projectile-pooping on them.

Listening:
DeVotchKa
Silversun Pickups
Optimus Rhyme

Video: French Linguistics, Bergman-style

Click here to play movie of Magdelana trying to learn French. Love to say she picked it right up, but she's really struggling with verb conjugation. Finally gave up and napped. Or, hollered for Dad to come play. Which he did.

So I taught her how to air-sax to Charlie Parker instead.

Lanessa + Henry

Bit of a controversy brewing over Lanessa's continued referral to her niece as "Henry."Henry was the name given to the being in Becca's belly before we knew the gender.* This name was appointed by Becca's grandfather, Grandpa Vic, and received considerable use up until the ultrasound. Lanessa, however, kept up the nomenclature, and has received censure from a certain twerp brother of hers for still using it.
It should be noted she bounces between Henry and Maggie.

It should also be noted that this is the girl who has been faithfully writing to Magdelana every single night for the past several months. My rulebook says that earns you a Suez Canal-size exception in the nickname department.

Others?

*her father knew all along. seriously.

Listening
Mr. Charlie Parker

Magdelana + Torsten

Click here to play video of Magdelana and her cousin Torsten.

Jonny and Exultant Firsts.

I want to be a person people are ecstatic to share their good news with.

The exultation on Jonny's face yesterday at finally seeing his niece for the first time: even the greatest actor in the world* could not fake that depth of emotion.

Dylan unplugging, or the Sox kidney-punching karma en route to the Series, or that Galileean jogging on water: moments in history you'd love to be a part of.

Yeah, it was very neat to see Magdelana meet up with Speedo-gospelizing Uncle Jonny. Although she saves her most joyful shrieks to share with her dad at 3am, it was evident from her squawking and gleeful grunting that they will be quite the buddies for some time to come.

Jonny is quite anxious to teach her martial arts, although he knows none himself.

Magdelana Snippets over the last week:

new favorite activity as of last Monday: showers. hilarious. so much fun.
music: loving Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Bach and Silversun Pickups. still not caring for Charlie Parker.
started French on CD. French? Couldn't find our Norwegian, German, or Mandarin audio classes
first bottle this evening. same course, different presentation, chugged it like a Dublin thug.

*Martin Short

Joy

benny goodman softly tooting away on the sunday afternoon stereo. power nap with daughter. few things better.


if you are able to look at this without chuckling you have no soul.
video coming.