In 2009, I will...

read more books (actual, physical books)
• cook amazing food more often
• exercise on a regular basis
• return art to my life (specifically, my painting)
• keep working on my novel
• meditate
  
• be more intentional about the time I spend on-line
  
• take a couple of short, overnight vacations locally
• go forward, instead of backward, financially
• start having dinner parties again (if possible with a 3-year-old)
• go back to my Afro-Cuban conga lessons and playing
• be more loving and kind toward those I live with
• get some gold fish
• eat some oysters
• (or was that eat some gold fish and get some oysters?)

Good Morning Toronto XXVI

Subway Riding

We took a family outing on the subway today. Not going anywhere really, just riding. Amado had been on the subway before, but I believe this is the first time he really got into the experience. Now that he knows there's a station right across the street from our house, he may be hard to keep off the trains.

A Little Christmas Day Reading

Amado reading "Me and Grandma at the Flea" on Christmas morning. Thanks Grandmas Coop and Bean!

Merry Xmas!

In the Air Tonight

Dedicated, with love, to Cousin Geoffrey. From Wendy and Amadisto.

Yup, It's snow.

Amado applies the taste test.

"Now you're out $25 billion, plus the cost of your Subaru."

This is funny, sad, and true all at the same time. Click to make big and read the small print. (h/t The Daily Dish)

Snow Day

...and though it's -25 C, Amadisto's out practicing his snowboard posturing.

Dock Ellis

Dock Ellis, the only known Major Leaguer to have pitched a no-hitter on LSD, has died. He was one of my favourites in the '70s. Of course, he was known for much more than pitching while high, but I remain astounded that he could pitch a no-hitter on LSD when it's so rare to do it at all.

High Desert Snow Storm

My nephew and niece rolling in the frsh snow with their Czech puppy. Snow like this is so awesome in the desert. Click to make the picture big and check my Mom's blog for more of these photos!

Tom Jones - Winter Wonderland

This is cheese to the max, but you have got to give Tom Jones props for his dance moves in this video. Holy Cow! the guy can move!!! I think even I would throw my underwear at him if I could.

Blues for Salvador

One of Carlos Santana's best instrumentals. Turn it on and let it play.

'Slingin' Sammy Baugh

One of the best football players ever died yesterday. Texan Sammy Baugh revolutionized the quarterback position by making passing a key part of the game. He also excelled as a defensive back and punter -- all at the same time:

Baugh was the best all-around player in an era when such versatility was essential. In 1943, he led the league in passing, punting and defensive interceptions. In one game, he threw four touchdown passes and intercepted four as well. He threw six touchdowns passes in a game twice. His 51.4-yard punting average in 1940 is still the NFL record.

"There's nobody any better than Sam Baugh was in pro football," Don Maynard, a fellow West Texas Hall of Famer. "When I see somebody picking the greatest player around, to me, if they didn't go both ways, they don't really deserve to be nominated. I always ask, 'Well, how'd he do on defense? How was his punting?'"

Three Years of Blogging at Alma's Soulfood!

...there's been highs and lows and everything in between. (Ok, mostly stuff in between, but whatever.) And remember my readers, whatever happens I am here for you.

Columbia Heights Crews

This news report is about Columbia Heights in Washington, D.C., which was where I used to live. It's about another sad, sad round of gang-related killings. Real life is hard enough, it doesn't need to be made worse by implying that a seige mentality is the only thing that can possibly get Columbia Heights residents through this tough time. Unlike what one of those interviewed says, there actually is something that can be done and it starts with people coming out of their shells and claiming responsibility for their own community. I'm glad I know people in Columbia Heights who are doing just that. It's not hopeless.

Cutie on my Laptop

I've been trying to get a picture of Amado's mouth so people could see how he looks with his missing teeth, but I still haven't got the right shot. But here's one from this morning when the little critter snuck on to my laptop (a big no-no). He's still in his pajamas and, yes, he's inherited the crazy hair gene from his parents.

Salt Miners

Up here in snow country, we have to pick up a ton of salt each time we come in the door. Not a exactly the situation I grew up with.

By the way, salt miners have one of the hardest jobs ever done by human beings on this earth. Please think of them next time you have salt.

Gram Toni

My paternal grandmother would have been 99 today. She died 5 years ago, but I still feel her with us.

54631 Mulberry St., New York - Circa 1900

While I'm posting pictures of New York, I thought I would post this beautiful picture. Look at all the kids in the street!

Here's the Google street view for the same location today, though I can't figure out what's where. I found this on the Wikipedia page for New York City, via Katie's wonderful At the Half Note blog...New York's finest on-line diary.

Did I mention...I love New York!

03-01-93

Jamie Livingston took a Polaroid photo every day for 18 years (1979-1997) until the day he died. His pictures are an amazing collection of snippets of everyday life--his work, his friends, his city, his lovers--and finally his illness. You can read more about it here and here.

To see Livingston's Polaroids, go here.

De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao

Speaking of broken teeth, did I mention I'm a big Oscar de la Hoya fan? He's my East LA homeboy, fighting Pacquiao tonight. Oscar has his work cut out for him.

(And yes, I know about the pictures that come up when you do a Google Image search on Oscar de la Hoya. What, can't you be both a world champion boxer and a cross-dresser? He's complicated. I guess that's part of his charm :-)

P.S. Pacquiao unexpectedly dominated De La Hoya, winning by TKO after 8 rounds. This should be the end of Oscar's boxing days.

Sad Superman

As a dad, it's hard to accept the realization that you can do everything possible to protect your child and it still won't be possible to protect him completely.

Amado in ER

Amado had a bad accident while he was at daycare yesterday afternoon and had to be rushed to the ER. He fell and busted up his mouth and his teeth on low shelf where the kids put their shoes. He basically bit his lower lip in half. Two of his top front teeth were completely impacted (i.e. violently shoved back into his gums) and will have to come out at some point, one way or another.

It was terrible, but he was a very brave little boy. During the three hours we waited in ER, he even played with some toys and watched some TV without having received any painkillers. I don't think I could have done that. It was a busy night in ER and people were literally dying around him (one person, in fact, did die while we were there).

Thankfully, he's going to be ok. The doctors stitched his lip back together (above - he was totally out when they gave him the stitches). We will go to the dentist tomorrow to see what they will do with the teeth. Hopefully there will be no damage to the buds of his permanent teeth. He was able to drink some milk out of a syringe when we got home.

What a terrible experience for him, Wendy, and I. It really makes us value our health and feel for those parents who go through much worse than this with their little ones. We are so sad.