snagabag

The wait is over! I’ve finally put photos from Liah’s 2nd Birthday Party online.  I want to thank everyone again who made it to our little soirée. Aparna, Liah, and I had a great time, and we think everyone who attended had a lot of fun. What am I saying? Just check out the photos to see people having fun! Don’t forget to leave comments, and you can view a slideshow by clicking the little computer icon in the upper right of the album. You can see the album by clicking here or on the photo.

I must thank my best friend’s husband, Rahul, for taking the vast majority of the photos. His passion for photography has been seized by his cheap Indian friends so that he is now the unofficial, unpaid event photographer of our group.

Not quite sure what is says about me that the above is the question I’m normally asked when I pay one of my friends a compliment. Actually, I am quite sure what is says about me, and I’m ok with it.

Once again, I spent a few days with mano et womano with Liah. This time I was more prepared for full-time parenting. For example, on Friday night I went out to dinner with two of my favorite people in the world and Rahul. After dinner we talked about hanging out a little longer, but it was getting to be bedtime for the kids so I brought up the idea of Liah & I spending the night at their place. What they didn’t know, as they nodded their heads in agreement thinking the odds of me having a spur-of-the-moment slumber party with a 2-year old were pretty slim, was I had packed an overnight bag for Liah and me before we left the house. They of course, having anticipated dinner and saying goodbye, looked at me with the same expression most of my friends give me. The expression that says, “Why can’t I have better friends.” So in the end, Liah & I crashed at Dimple and Rahul’s place Friday night. This actually worked out really well for Liah as Dimple is fantastic with Liah. It also worked out really well for me as I got to hang out and play video games (yes, video games) with my pals instead of hanging out at home alone; which, as anyone who knows me well can tell you, is pretty much my least favorite thing to do.

On Saturday, my pal Rob came in to town from Waco, so we did a little Guy’s Day/Night. What did this mean for Liah? Allow me to show you.

Yep, there’s Liah hanging out while the boys play a little lot of PS3. Yep, more video games. Also, you’re eyes do not deceive you; that is indeed beer being consumed. Alcohol, video games, an 11-foot screen, and my 2-year old daughter. I wonder where I’ll put my Dad of the Year award?

I like this one because I believe it was the moment Gmoney realized there was a 2-year old girl in the room, and I’m pretty sure he had a mouthful of beer at this exact moment.

Playing games on the big screen is fun. Though we still found time for the greatest video game system of all time later in the evening, Wii! No pictures this time, but we had a blast playing Wii Sports. I should mention I had my first Wii accident Saturday night. We were playing Wii Bowling and I nailed Liah’s shopping cart during a virtual bowl. I hit it so hard I flipped it over and sent the contents flying. In addition to scaring the bejeezus out of myself, I thought for a moment I had busted my Wii controller! Thankfully it lived to control another day.Anyway, Aparna’s back, so Liah’s back on the right track.

It’s 11:44pm on Sunday, July 29, 2007. Aparna & Liah are zonked out.

What am I doing right now?

Updating my blog and eating some Golden Grahams.

Happy Birthday To Liah!

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 2 years since she was born.

Last night I attended a support group for the first time. Ok, I’ve gone to computer support groups before, but this was a disease support group. Not quite the same thing, is it? I went to the monthly meeting of the CCFA’s Austin support group. They’ve been meeting for over 10 years, and I’ve known about the group for a couple of years, but I had never made an effort to go.

I’m glad I went.

It was the first time I had ever engaged with a group of people with the same or a similar disease, and I found it very …well… cool. It was cool to hear the experience and advice of others. Keep in mind I haven’t engaged in any online support community either since I found out I had UC. There were about 10 people there, some had been coming for years, but I wasn’t the only one who was showing up for the first time either. The age range was all over the map…from 70’s to teens. Some had just been diagnosed recently, others had had it almost their entire lives. Most importantly to me, the mood was lighthearted. I had no desire to go be around a bunch of sad people. I’m not a sad person… quite the opposite in fact, and I wasn’t too keen on spending an hour and a half with a bunch of depressed strangers. Thankfully, that was not the case at all; the mood was lighthearted and positive. I plan to continue attending.

We threw Liah her 2nd ever birthday party today and I’m thrilled to say it was a smashing success! Everyone had a great time, including the guest of honor. I was happy because Aparna planned the whole thing (it always makes for a better event.)

Straight from a digital camera, here’s the penultimate moment of the birthday party:

We held her party at Radijazz. It’s a nice little indoor playground for kids, and we recommend it. They let you rent out the entire space which is very nice. In addition, the employees on hand were extremely nice and helpful.Thanks again to all of our friends and family that made to her party!

Well, I’ve had my iPhone for almost a week now and I’m happy to say I love it! That’s right, I just attributed the most powerful emotion known to humans to how I feel about a gadget. Seriously, in my opinion (do I even need to say when writing on my blog?), it is the coolest gadget I’ve ever owned… and I’ve owned a lot of gadgets (if you know me you’re nodding your head in approval right now.) Of course, I’m not the only one who likes it.

Look closely and you’ll see Liah’s enjoying some Sesame Street on, as she puts it, “daddy’s ifod!”

Also known as “the funniest 5 seconds on the internet.” Enjoy the riveting drama.