I just can't win....

Woe is me. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to avoid a controversy on my blog....only this time, instead of retreads like "kate" and "todd" leaving asinine comments, I've become aware of people "commenting" outside the walls of this blog; I've gotten "hate mail," concerned mail, and people just flat out freaking out about a simple canoe trip. Relax people. I think the thing I find most upsetting is the vibe I'm getting that somehow we're not good parents or something, and we made a "ridiculous" choice. First of all, if you are planning on voting for McCain this November, then you shouldnt say anything, since that is a tenfold more dangerous decision than taking a little guy canoeing. Second of all, and I want stress this, Callum was perfectly safe. Lifejacket. Four layers of clothing. Strapped into a car seat. Placed on a flat canoe floor between two wooden slats. Not to mention that, one, we were only gone for 15 minutes, and two, we virtually "hugged" the coast of Lake George, in order to keep him out of the sun. Consider your own surroundings before judging: In my mind, taking a newborn via automobile through the quagmire that is Boston, or the clusterbomb that is a July Bourne Bridge is FAR more dangerous than taking a newborn out on a pristine, quiet, glassy Maine lake for fifteen minutes. So please, can we put this matter to bed? (Thats what she said).

Anyway, look at Callum: He's as happy as Twon at a beerfest.....
We have been having some beautiful fall weather lately, and parts of Maine got a couple of inches of snow last night. There's a beautiful park in Fairfield--Mill Island Park--that sits, well, on an island in the Kennebec River. Its right downtown, and its a TOTAL hidden gem. I often go there to run, workout, read, etc. We took Callum for a little stroll before dinner the other night. He LOVED the tire swing with mommy--he was all smiles as the wind kissed his face as he went back and forth. OH MY GOD! IS HE NOT WEARING A HELMET????????

Just kidding.
We have lots of trains running through Fairfield, and hearing the whistle at 2, 3, or 4 in the morning is lovely. Sometimes. Since Callum adores trains, I thought we'd wait a bit and try our luck at seeing one cross the trestle. The trestle crosses the Kennebec, and, from the road bridge on the other side, its beautiful to watch the trains meander across the river. Especially in the fall!
My buddy Jay already isnt talking to me, so I figure what the hell....

Its Callum's first world series! Go Phillies!!!!!

I was nervous that the sox were going to end up playing the Phillies in the fall classic, since if they did, it would virtually tear this family apart. Much of Amanda's family would have been rooting for the Phillies, and Amanda and I would have been rooting for the sox. The Phillies are the "National League" team of the Goldsmith family, and, now that the sox arent in it, we can put all our energy toward rooting for the cheesesteaks. Actually, I'd root for anyone who was playing against the Rays....smug little dinks. And Rays fans should be ASHAMED of themselves!!!! For 85% of the season, there were no Rays fans to be found at the Trop....but now, all of the sudden, they are everywhere! FAIR WEATHER IDIOTS!!!

GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!