Davely's Musings

The miracle of life

The healing power in your child's smile and laughter

I have always enjoyed the crisp, cool, bright mornings of the fall season.  However, there is another reason to enjoy the fall time. 

I meet my wife during the fall season back in 2001. 

The audacity of Apple continues to grow. How long until the industry starts to take Apple to task for this type of behavior.  Microsoft would not be allowed a pass on something like this.  But, Apple is the darling right now.  I wonder for how long?  The iPhone isn't all that it's cracked up to be, and the launch of MobileMe was anything but stellar.  I thought everything Apple was just supposed to work?

Apple continues to deceive users | Ed Bott’s Windows Expertise |

It's nice to know that Apple is all about competition.  Ya, right.  Sounds like anti-competitive behavior to me.  What do they have to be afraid of if their feature is intuitive and usable right?

Podcaster app distributed via Ad Hoc after Apple rejection - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

I'm half way through my three weeks with Bryan.  It's been, well hard to describe. Each day is an emotional journey for me.  I feel closer to him each day as I watch him smile and laugh.  I've gained a new appreciation for being a son. I now understand how people can just watch their child sleep.  It's so beautiful.  It will be hard to go let go of him when each times comes for each new stage in his life.

Today is my wife's first day back at work after our son was born. She took three months off.  I'm taking three weeks off with him now, which started last Monday. I wanted to tell her Thank You for staying home with our son.  It was not easy and she did a great job. 

There is something absolutely perfect about having my son sleeping in my arms resting his head on my shoulder.

A great paraody of the iPhone 3G.  :)

Jason Langridge's WebLog - MR Mobile! : iPhone 3G Parody Video

Another great parady of an Apple product.  This time the Air takes the hit.

Jason Langridge's WebLog - MR Mobile! : [Humour] Macbook air parody

This is a pretty interesting story.

Microsoft in an Apple store? Oh, the irony… | Ed Bott’s Windows Expertise |

You can see it here.

For the record, not everyone wants an iPhone. Not everyone thinks they are the end all be all of phones. I certainly don't. 

They have done some things very well, which is very good for the industry, but the hype machine is pretty amazing.  A recent headline in Macworld says the "3G revolution continues"  Depending on how that's interpreted, it could mean a couple of things.  If they are implying the 3G iPhone itself is a revolution, they are sadly mistaken. It's more a good solid evolution of the phone.  Really, just catching it up to other phones on the market in some key technologies.  Other spots, it still lags.

We have taken about 480 pictures of our boy since he was born a few months ago.  Many are good, him smiling, sleeping, playing.  Some not so good, blurry etc.  However, there is something special for me in the pictures of my father feeding my son.

Well it sure has been awhile. Lots happening in life as of late.  Our little boy sure is growing up fast, but they have a tendency to do just such a thing.  I still haven't gotten around to posting pictures yet, but that will change today.  I'll post a couple of the day he was born and how he looks now, 10 weeks old.

So, it appears that Leopard isn't all that it is cracked up to be.  If I were to apply the same type of criticism that Microsoft has gotten over Vista, I think it would be safe to say that Leopard is a complete failure.  There is absolutely no reason something like this should ever happen.  The closed nature of their system means they control everything.  There is no excuse for even one incident like this.

The article points to Apple's forums that are full of problems.

I thought Mac's were supposed to just work?

Mac OS 10.5.2 = Apple Vista? (updated) | The Apple Core | ZDNet.com

So, our baby boy is now one day away from seven weeks old. How time flies.  It was fast enough already, but wow.

Things are definitely different now. Yes, I knew that was coming, but wasn't ready for just how different it would be.  I new this would happen, but wrapping your might around just how much is just not possible until it arrives.

My brain tends to be a bit more logical and there is very little logical about a baby.  Things are always changing too with what works to calm him down and put him to sleep.  Can be very difficult.

Time tends to be more precious than it used to be as well.  :)   Again, not that I didn't know that was coming, but couldn't gasp just how much. 

I will jet for now and will try and post some pictures soon.

So, our son (Bryan Allen) was born on March 20th at 6:50am via a c-section birth.  March 20th was his due date as well. 

We had a planned c-section for that day at 5pm for other reasons.   But, my wife's water broke at 3am and off we went.  Looks like he just couldn't wait to get here. I think he gets that from his mom.  :)

He and Mom are doing fine and recovering fine.

So, it's been quite awhile since I've posted anything here.  Lots going on in many different areas of life.  We are preparing for our son to join us in March.  He is a pretty active kids and let's his Mom know when he's hungry etc.  He reacts to my presense more and more now as well.

We've decided to start playing some music more and more so hopefully he will recognize it when he arrives.  We are playing to same stuff more often than not, although we play lots of other music as well.

The Seahawks loss last week was pretty disappointing in so many ways.  It's in times like those that I do not want to be a sports fan.  Oddly enough, there is a bit of an emotional hangover after a loss like that in the playoffs.  It's to bad, but life goes on.

Leopard is a disappointment in my book.  It's a $130 service pack with bugs.  I've move away from using it more and more; and have several issues with the OS and on nagging issue of the mail app remembering my password.  The Apple advertisements also leave a bad taste in my mouth.  They are slightly entertaining.  But, they are boredline lies, reek of egoism, and degradation of PCs.  I'm not going to give my money to company that is like that.  Vista is a good OS.  It's to bad there is so much negative press about it. 

I've used every OS out there. Including several Linux distros.  I've got Ubuntu on my laptop as well. Windows is the OS for me, with no switching any time soon.

I'm not really sure how much posting will be going on here, often it seems like my priorities and attention is pulled elsewhere.  I'll still continue to participate in comments on the blogs I read on a regular basis though.

So, a book was given to us about caring for children.  In the introduction there was a section that seemed like it needed to be read right away.  It was titled "Your child's gifts to you" 

1.  Unqualified love

2.  Absolute trust

3.  The thrill of discovery

4.  The heights of emotion.

I won't elaborate on what is said, but safe to say those are pretty powerful subjects.

I received this from a friend via email. Not sure who wrote it, but I enjoyed it.  So...

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,
'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.'

'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'
'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'

'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.'

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'

I didn't write this, but it sure is a good reminder for me.

All the Good I Can
Dear God, guide me to
Do all the good I can
By all means I can
In all ways I can
In all places I can
To all people I can
As long as I can.

Whew, my how time flies.  What has been happening here. Well, as you know, we are having a little boy.  We have been cleaning the room, getting the crib, cleaning the spare bedroom.  We went shopping last weekend for outfits and bought a few newborn and 2 month old outfits.   I'm in such awe when I think about what is coming.

I have a business trip planned for next week and have been very occupied with that.  Lots of issues surrounding it as well.  My wife will be traveling with me, which will also help ease my stress level some knowing that she is there close by in the case something happens.  This trip will be stressful, but will also be a good learning and growing experience for me.  So, while I have some apprehension, the level changes on a daily basis, I'm looking forward to it as well.  I hope the snow is kept to a minimum, as it is snowing there now.

Thanksgiving week is here.  It's officially time for everyone to be grateful etc.  Why can't this be the case all year round?  I'm always somewhat irritated by the Christmas ornaments that are out and have been for weeks.  I seem to remember this stuff was out the day after Thanksgiving, not weeks before hand.  *sigh*

I still haven't posted my thoughts on Apple's now OS, Leopard.  Let's just say that you don't need to get caught up in the hype.

I hope you all are doing well out there.

So, fanatics can ruin just about any good thing out there.  I just don't understand the religion that goes on with Mac fanatics.  It's as if nothing critical can be said about OSX or Apple etc.  Well, here is a great article from Extreme tech on that very thing.

The Worst Thing about Macs