Kid Gourmet

This meal turned out great. Chicken in Riesling from the March issue of Gourmet. Leeks, carrots and chicken braised in a reduction of riesling (the bottle I picked up from Venice Beach Wines), with parsley-potatoes. Henry loves it. Well sort of - he's a little strange when it comes to potatoes, but that's just fine with his Dad.

Look out kid, don't matter what you did . . .

We took a family trip to the Skirball Cultural Center and Henry jammed on the keyboard to some Bobby Dylan in the Bob Dylan's American Journey exhibit. You could also play guitar or percussion, and they had a lot of folk revival memorabilia, too. See it soon - it runs through June 8, 2008 and these things always leave town before you remember to visit them.

We also played around in the really amazing Noah's Ark exhibit (the real reason we went up there that day), which if you haven't been is a real treat for any kid (and parent). It's one of those things that is unique and so interactive and playful that you're amazed at how anyone came up with the idea, and you have to experience it; words can't do it justice. Henry had a blast running around untethered with dozens of other kids. We even ran into some friends we hadn't seen in a long time.

My Alien Lovechild

Henry having fun with Caro and the new iMac.

Village Green Preservation Society

I heard this song, The Village Green Preservation Society, on XM Radio today and it got to me. It's a 3-disc set of The Kinks' 1968 album. Has some great lyrics, and I'm thinking it would be a good name for the weekly weekend family trips that we have on our New Year's resolution list, trips that we'd like to take with our friends and their kids around Los Angeles.

This weekend, we're planning on seeing the (c)Murakami exhibit at M.O.C.A.

Greatest Christmas Card Ever

I think the look on their faces says it all. From our friends, The Bells, in Athens, Georgia.

Henry Practices Walking

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Health Alert! E.T.C.S.

Don't let the nightmare of E.T.C.S. happen to your family. Extreme Toy Choice Syndrome can leave a once happy child confused, upset and roiling in fits of angst and torment. Cake pan? Wooden Spoon? Firehouse Mouse? Teething Rings 1, 2, 3 or 4? Soccer Ball? My First Briefcase including My First Mobile Phone, My First Calculator, My First Wristwatch? Caterpillar thingy that Dad likes more than Baby?

All of this choice can only lead to one thing: E.T.C.S. Faced with so many options (not to mention: Xbox controllers, Wii remotes, mobile phones, home telephones, DVD remote, DirecTV remote, HDTV remote, extension cords, computer cords, USB cords, Ethernet cables, and Baby Einstein DVD cases - five of them) babies around the country are looking up at their parents with faces twisted with anguish that say, "Why,Daddy? Why is this consumer electronics and toy manufacturing baby entertainment, distraction and sedation system - this E.T.C.S. hell now part of my young life?" They scream for help, but they fall on ears muffled with Xbox Live headsets, bluetooth earbuds, and iPod earphones. Don't let your child face E.T.C.S. alone. Face the facts.

Don't let it happen to your baby.

And a Good Morning to Ya!

My latest parenting incident included copious amounts of vomit.