Proud Aunt and Uncle

On April 2nd, at 3:33 in the morning, Callum became a cousin, and Amanda and I became an aunt and an uncle, respectively. This is very cool. I can't believe that my little sister had a baby! We can't wait to meet him; we were going to travel down to see the little tyke this weekend, but I think we'll wait until next week, when things are a little more calm, and the Favrys are resting comfortably at home.

I hear Jackson has already made his feelings known to his Nannie, giving her the finger when she tried to put a hat on him. And, I heard that he loves to suck his thumb, just like his cousin Callum. I also heard--literally--that this kid has a SET of LUNGS on him. Maybe he'll be a singer like his Uncle Jared. Uncle Jared....I like the sound of that.

On the Goldsmith front, things are going well. Humprhies continues to defecate "just" outside the litter box....just to keep me honest. Callum is getting closer and closer to standing and walking each day....he is a strong little guy! Amanda might go shopping for an Easter outfit for Callum tomorrow, which leaves me more time to drink beer alone in the basement. Just kidding. Sort of. But I will try and move some wood, even though its been pouring pouring pouring out tonight, and our clay-laden yard will undoubtedly be a mud pit. Oh yeah...I forgot to mention the firewood on the blog the other day....I will do a post on that....no pun intended. Get it? Post?

Anyway, now Sally and I are off to watch Arrested Development, which "may" be the funniest freakin' show we have ever seen. And I mean that sincerely. The Office will always have a special place in my heart, but this show is unreal...I mean laugh out loud funny! Anyone ever see it? Any fans?

Anyway, get some good rest tonight Uncle Arf and Auntie KK. And tell Jackson we love him.

Wednesdays With Callum #1

Hi. Amanda here. Wednesdays I work from home and I get to be with Callum ALL DAY! This marks the first installment of 'Wednesdays with Callum', a weekly update of our day together. So, while we're waiting for news from the Favry household I wanted to post a few pictures of Callum that I took today. He is getting very good at standing - he pulls himself up on just about anything he can get his hands on, including my knee...

Look at these little teeth. He looked like such a big boy today - I'm not sure if it was the outfit or what, but he looks almost like a little toddler! Don't grow up too fast, Callum!

Speaking of growing up too fast, guess who can now climb the stairs??? Yup, I saw it myself today. Apparently he's been working on this at Grammy & Grampy's house when he goes there during the week. He made it up three steps today. I don't have a picture because I didn't dare take my eyes (or hands!) off of him...

He did take a break from that to play with his birds. He loves this toy. It's actually a shape sorter but he likes to pull the birds out of the birdhouse and shake them. Jared and I got this toy for him at a local toy shop in Augusta called 'The Painted Horse'. They have really good quality toys there, plus it's a local business which we like.

And finally, I had to post this picture of Callum reading my Vogue Knitting magazine. Well, he is actually eating it... He is getting ready for the Fiber Frolic which he'll be attending with me and Grammy in June. I keep telling Jared that boys can knit too...

A Dancing Fool...

Hi. Amanda here. Just a short clip of Callum dancing. This kid loves music and gets really excited to dance with his Mommy & Daddy... He has been into pulling the CDs down from our shelves and today he happened to pick "Meow Mix", a mixed CD that the Straz family made for us. Good choice, Callum!

Playing around

Amanda has gotten Callum REALLY into Patty-Cake games, and its funny to see how Callum now claps for just about everything! You change his diaper, trigger the jack-in-the-box, or say certain random words, and he just starts clapping. Here we are, playing Patty-Cake right before his bath. And I think this has now become my new favorite picture. I need a bigger copy of this. Look at him....he looks so proud of himself for clapping. Hilarious.

I called this post "Playing Around" because the pictures revolve around playing with Callum. And today marked another milestone: I "officially" passed down my first childhood toy to Callum, in the form of a box of Matchbox and Hotwheel cars. He really likes playing with them actually; sure, he puts each one in his mouth to "test it," but then he pushes them across the floor and chases them. I have always been a "saver" of things, and I'm always reticent to throw anything away; I guess I just always had this idea that someday some of my things would be worth a lot of money or something. I have all my old baseball cards, all my old coin collection, my sea shell collection, a bunch of original "Smurf" figures (dad always makes fun of my for that), and I've started saving t-shirts to give to Callum when he's older (Red Sox, Patriots, my old football jersey from high school and rugby jersey from college, etc). But I guess I just wish I saved everything to pass down to him....

I remember my dad always saying to me when I was younger: "Jeez...I wish I saved (fill in the blank) for you! It would be worth so much money now!" And although I've saved some stuff, I wish I could reclaim:

1. My comic book collection, with some priceless "Green Lanterns," "Thors," and "Spiderman's."

2. My GI Joe ensemble, as I had tons of soldiers, the "Cobra Twins," the Hovercraft, and the Aircraft Carrier (yeah, I pretty much rocked)

3. He-Men paraphernalia, as I had the actual Castle of Grayskull, Evil Lynne (well, actually I still have Evil Lynne...wah wah wah), Shee-Ra, the Battlecat, Man-at-Arms, Orco, and two types of He-Men (the original, and the one that twisted and punched and then his chest caved in)

4. Star Wars!!! Obviously. I think I still have Luke, Darth, and Admiral Akbar (go figure). But what in the world was I thinking by getting rid of my laser gun, my "Planet Hoth Rebel Base," and all the other figurines I had??!! Never mind Callum...."I" want to play with them again!

Oh yeah, Dad we're going to need the "Beep Beep" for Callum soon. That's a whole other blog....

A (somewhat) Wish List

The world according to Humphries....... A VERY familiar scene in the Goldsmith household. We got Humphries at the tail end (no pun intended) of the burning season....but he's gotten a few fires still. That being said, he is "starting" to be seen in front of the stove. Still not in the context Thomas used to indulge (if you remember, Thomas would pretty much lie on the hearth). But, we're thinking Humphries will eventually be a wood-stove kitty cat.

Q: Why does Callum play with this cat thingy more than anything else in the house lately?

A: Because its not one of his toys....duhh!!!

He loves this thing! I think grandmom gave this to Amanda. We keep it on a bookshelf, and, of course, Callum has found it.
The Favry's are due any day now to have their first little boy (and our first nephew!). On the (somewhat) eve of Jackson's birth, I put together a quick "wish list" of pleasant thoughts and hopes I have concerning two little cousins spending time together. Geography is our enemy here, but we all hope to do the best we can.....please feel free to add some!!

1. Two little boys to run around Nannie's house around the holidays, eating chocolate something-or-other, and then touching the wall

2. A new audience to which to tell my old jokes that everyone has already heard a million times

3. Constant practical jokes played on Papa Goldsmith (hide his glasses, put whoopie cushions on his chair, put ice cubes in a cup with a hole cut out of the bottom and then hang it above him while Papa sleeps, change all the settings on his computer, etc)

4. The possibility of matching outfits for certain holidays

5. All the cool things about apple picking that we used to love when we were kids can now be passed on to Jackson and Callum

6. a contest to "find last year's turkey carcass" the fastest (this will be done, as tradition, on the morning of Thankgiving)

7. The image of Papa Goldsmith sitting with a six year old and a five year old, surrounded by Shirley Temples, crumpled up napkins, and a huge Pu Pu platter on a table

8. Constant practical jokes played on Nannie (playing "touch the wall" and "how long can I go with my shoes on in the house before Nannie notices")

9. Seeing the two of them in the bath together (every family in America has pictures of their little toddlers in bathtubs with other toddler brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.). Kranthony, I think we'll have to do this one in Maine, for obvious reasons.

10. Taking two little guys out for a canoe trip down the Kennebec or a notable Connecticut river

11. Carrying on perhaps the greatest Goldsmith family tradition: The deep-sea fishing trip. I've done a little math here....when just dad and I go, dad usually packs 12 sandwiches for the day. SOooooo.....if me, dad, Twon, CS, and JR go, then that works out to....um....about 388 sandwiches, a pallet of Pringles, and a keg of Polar seltzers. You should just buy a cow, Papa.

Gel

But first, the most adorable problem we have ever had. We have no idea HOW in the world Humphries was able to do this, but today while Callum was taking his morning nap, Humphries somehow jumped up and OVER Callum's crib railing, and into the crib. Amanda walked in to see this! He was keeping his little buddy warm--Callum and Humphries have really bonded! And even though this is very cute, we do not want him to jump up in Callum's crib, and we have taken the course of action to prevent it from happening again. Its too bad though....Humprhies is a good boy.....Some other Callum shots.....

Every afternoon we play "I'm gonna getchoo!" on the floor of the sewing room. He has me pinned down here. I lost. Oh well.

Okay. Where does our son get these BEAUTIFUL eyes??

Callum loves his new singing doggy. Thanks Nannie!

Gel.

One of the best jobs I ever had was as a guide for fourteen 25 year old female Swiss exchange students. My friend Seth and I "chaperoned" this trip to Acadia National Park, and then down to Camden, where we took the girls sailing, for a week, aboard "The Mercantile," a windjammer sailboat. I could write a whole BOOK about those two summers, but suffice to say that we had lots of time to talk while aboard the ship. One afternoon, the subject of "national" stereotypes came up, as we teased the girls about how no European women ever shave their armpits, etc. We wondered what "we" are known for, as Americans, in the "European theater." Their answer, given with the least bit of hesitation, involved three stereotypes:

1. Americans are ALWAYS chewing gum. Every political cartoon depicts us gum-chewing morons

2. We are very, very known for the way we drive while eating fast food sandwiches, and many sitcoms and satirical shows (SNL types) show Americans driving poorly while eating Big Macs

3. We cant handle physical pain, and we pop pills for EVERYTHING!

All good assessments I think. But, just the other day, something dawned on me: We have become a nation of gels. That's right, a nation of gels. When did this happen? When did everything we once knew to be good and effective suddenly become turned into a gel? And what's the deal with this ultra-American notion that, in order for something to be effective, it has to be in a gel form? Seriously!

1. Sneakers: Used to be foam pads. Then air or pumps. Then the advent of "gel" inside sneakers--Asics and Reebok were the first pioneers

2. Shaving: Shaving "cream" is for old-timers. Now, everything is shaving "gel." In fact, the Hanaford in Waterville only sells one type of shaving cream--Barbasol. Everything else is a gel now

3. Soap: Soap-on-a-rope? Nope. All that novelty is gone....replaced by "shower gels." What happened to perfectly good BARS? They are seen as unsanitary. How can SOAP be unsanitary? That's like saying that water is too dry. Now, we squeeze this gel onto stupid loofah things that are germ factories in themselves

4. Food: Johnny Crockett and I used to hike a lot in the White Mountains, and before we left we'd have a Power Bar. But, before my 5K a couple of weeks ago, Dave at Matthieu's cycle recommended this "energy gel." Now even food has become gel. Are we too lazy to chew? Or are we too busy? Or, will food damage the teeth that we clean with......

5. Toothpaste: Nope.....gel! You can't find a lot of "paste" anymore. Gel is obviously more effective. Why? Maybe its because "gel" is more streamlined; it is able to come in smoother and cooler colors....and that is so awesome!!

6. Physical Therapy: Yeah...people still get it. But why go through the hassle when you can just sit back and have....you guessed it.....GEL injected into your knee, elbow, etc. This gel lubricates the joint. Hooray for gel!!

7. Ben Gay: First of all, why is this stuff CALLED this? But I digress. After football practice in high school, I used to put Ben Gay (a white cream) on my sore muscles. Think you can find that any more? Try. Now, its new and improved....as a "fast acting gel." Apparently "gel "is faster than "cream. " I can see sore muscles running away in fear as they see they are going to be rubbed with gel versus cream.

8. Tylenol: We sure to pop pills, dont we? And why take a regular pill or tablet filled with powdered up pain reliever, when you take a "fast acting gel-cap?" Again, is gel really faster

9. And this one REALLY takes the prize....Liquid Plumber: Are you kidding me? Stuff to remove hair and clogged drains??? But seriously, we were having a slow drain a few weeks ago. I went to Hannaford to buy some stuff....and they had the regular old Liquid Plumber.....but then they had the "double action gel." Can someone tell me why our drain de-clogger needs to be gel now? It was working fine before....

What else am I missing here? Its just so funny--in our present day American culture, we seem to have this idea that if something is "gel," then its somehow faster and better and sleeker and smarter. Its very funny to observe.

Chinese Food Restaurant Naming Matrix

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Chinese food; actually, its more like an addiction than a love. Or, if you will, its an addiction THAT I love. Hot mustard and lobster sauce run through my veins, just as they do my father, and my grandfather. That being said, I've noticed lately that Chinese food restaurants just aren't trying too hard. All we hear about in the news is how China is ahead of us in everything and we need to COMPETE....China, China, China. With all we read today about how American schools, businesses, and technologies need to compete with China with just about everything, I find it ironic (and extremely funny) how, in America, its the Chinese restaurants who could give two craps about competing. For one, they hardly ever advertise. That is because they know their restaurant is the same as the one down the street, and so on. Furthermore, when they DO advertise, its only to show how their prices are lower than that place down the street; its all about price, and they could care less about quality. The second reason they dont compete is because they can't even put forth the effort to have their menus spellchecked and proofread for clarity ("We being closed on Saturday next for weddings in families" or "We have great value, however we can alter the spiciness to your taste" for example). Thirdly, beyond the cheapness of their prices, they make no effort to appeal to or identify with their "audience" of menu readers--there's never anything about how good their food is, or how much they care about quality, etc. There's just no "backstory." I mean, when you go into a good Italian restaurant, for example, there's always a little quib on the menu about how Mama Josephina created these recipes back in Villa Villa Cola in Sicily in 1850, and how, besides her family bible, the recipes were the only thing she brought with her to America, blah blah blah....There's nothing like that with Chinese food restaurants. And FINALLY, Chinese restaurants have been generically naming their restaurants for years--there's absolutely no effort going into creating something new and innovative...its all the same rote crap. Some names are COMPLETELY disheartening in their character in fact--"China Buffet" comes to mind. Doesnt get more simple and unimaginative than that.

SOOOOOO.....in an effort to help my fellow Chinese food restaurant entrepreneurs be even MORE lazy and uncompetitive, I have created a Chinese food naming matrix. Its pretty easy: All Chinese food restaurants follow a simple ADJECTIVE + NOUN formula. So all that you need to do is pick one (or maybe two if you feel like expending some energy) adjective from column A and then pair it up with a noun of your choice from column B. Do this, buy a fryalotor, and purchase one of those kitty cat clocks where the eyes move every time the second hand ticks....and you too could purvey your own Chinese food restaurant!

COLUMN A --- COLUMN B

Imperial--- Panda

Chung ---Lee

Ming ---Terrace

Mandarin--- Garden

Happy--- House

Tea--- Corner

Lucky ---Dream

Jade ---Empire

Golden ---Buffet

Grand--- Garden

Oriental ---Dynasty

China ---Express

Panda--- Kitchen

Lotus--- Pagoda

Royal ---Dragon

---------Island

---------Palace

---------King

---------East