Baby Mine

She's gone.

	Alison Krauss - Baby Of Mine [Disney]
	Found at skreemr.com

Daddy loves and misses you Sweet Pea.

Rest now...

Omega

Tomorrow marks the start of the last weekend that we'll have Mac before she is ripped from us and the 12 other members of her family that are within 30 miles of where I currently sit. I'm going to do my best to make this a fun weekend for her, and do my damnedest to keep her mind off of what this is.

I exploded at her mother on the phone just the other evening, and she had it coming. I've been far too nice and far too gracious for far too long. I let it all out, and amazingly without much in the way of profanity. (Those that know me know that not only am I a sailor's kid, but I was an infantryman. I know my colorful metaphors.) I even told her things that Mac had told me in confidence about her feelings, but of course I'm not to be believed in that regard.

So, we come to the end. An end that shouldn't be happening. An end that has benefit to only two selfish individuals, and is to the detriment of fifteen others. From this day on, we, not just I, live life without.

A message to the WGA from my wife

She took one glance at "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" and said the following:

Wow. This is precisely the kind of shit that gets made when the writers go on strike. Thanks a lot.

And, Dan Cortese? Damn. Dude won a freaking Emmy with "MTV Sports." Talk about the bottom of the career ladder.

I only hope that my fall from grace goes better than this.

Nashville SAHDs rejoice!

Many thanks to Rick for letting me know that Nashville area SAHDs have a local group they can turn to for support and camaraderie.

Nashdads.com

Any time that any of you guys want to make a day trip to the aquarium in Chattanooga, or you want to come down my way to stare at the rockets, just let me know.

Notorious. In all the right circles.

It's one thing when you meet the head coach, tell him the tale of how your son was born, and he takes an interest in your child. (He wants Butters to play D.)

It's another when the assistant coach seeks you out at the luncheon to introduce himself to you , your wife, and your boy and takes the same interest.

But when the other assistant coach comes up to your wife and child while at the game and asks if this is the boy that he's heard so much about, that's just all kinds of cool.

It appears that Butters is all kinds of notorious in the world of collegiate hockey, and he hasn't even mastered walking yet.

You really want to see a "SAHD Gone mad?"

This is a long one folks. And I use colorful phrases. You've been warned.
UPDATE: Rebel Dad has picked this up as well.

There's this old saying that goes "sometimes it's best to let sleeping dogs lie." This is an interesting, albeit antiquated thought, with regards to the wonders of this digital age in which we dwell. With the anonymity that the internet affords so many, it's easy to be brash, rude, and uncouth with little to fear in the way of consequences or retribution. The faceless void of the web allows one to say anything, anytime, anywhere. I'm guilty of it, and whether you care to admit it or not, so are you. It's just the nature of the beast. So when one comes across some content they find objectionable, or when one becomes the target of an attack, perhaps it's just best to let those dogs lie and trudge on.

But when that attack mentions you directly... all bets are off.

I could (and probably should) take the moral high road and just shrug off Lindsay Ferrier's latest diatribe courtesy of Nashville Scene, but I'm not going to. In this latest article she makes a number of accusations and comments that at least bear some need for discussion and clarification.

The first, and certainly most damning, accusation that Lindsay makes is a quote from a thread that I participated in at AtHomeDad.org. The topic of said discussion is there in Lindsay's article, as is part of what I wrote. What isn't there is the rest of the discussion, nor the response of others that participated in it. A simple cursory glance at said discussion reveals that it is nothing more than the same type of mindless chatter that is rampant on message boards all over the internet. I could, as Lindsay does, pull out the content of that discussion and post it here for all to see, but I won't do that as I do not own that content nor have I sought permission from the site's owner, or the other posters that also responded. AtHomeDad.org is a private website, belongs to those that created it, and as such I will not remove content from there without the permission of those that administer or created it.

"But how is that any different from you quoting Ms. Ferrier's article?"

Lindsay's article is a part of Nashville Scene, one of the countless tragically hip webzines that dot the internet. Where I have quoted Ms. Ferrier I've done so by linking back to the original content, citing my references properly. I do this not only to give you, the reader, a chance to review what has been said, but also because it's one of the first things expected of even the lowliest high school freshman in English class. You give proper credit to others work, Lindsay didn't do that.

But I'm nitpicking, back to the boobies...

I make little in the way of apologies for what I said in the aforementioned forum topic. I didn't create the thread, I only responded to it, and I don't think the author of it should apologize or feel ashamed either. As I alluded to just moments ago, these are the types of things that run rampant on the internet, and it's not specific to any one sex or website. Lindsay can bring this topic to light and skew it to meet her needs, but I have it on very good authority (i.e.- the wife, my boss, HH6, mi mamacita), that this same type of nonsensical discussion happens on the mommy boards too. Where here it was breasts, on mommy boards it's often guys tight, muscular asses and their sinewy bodies heaving against their clothes (I so totally channeled Jackie Collins there), the size and shape of men's bait and tackle twigs and berries units penises, and other things that the wife tells me would make even this old soldier blush and scratch his head in amazement. (I had no idea that sexual offers and bathroom graffiti of the same nature weren't exclusive to men's rooms until it came up in discussion between the wife and I once.)

Does the discussion of the anatomy of the opposite sex in a light-hearted, although some would say crude, manner absolve one from apologizing to those that may take offense to that discussion? Not necessarily. You can be offended, but the only person I have to apologize to is the woman I married, and she doesn't take any offense to it. Freewill gives you the right to take offense and furthermore allows you to tell me about it. (Comments welcome bellow. Or, feel free to e-mail me at gamingwithbaby@gmail.com. Don't worry, I already took care of the subject line for you.)

And for the record, this doesn't leave me wondering why I'm excluded from mommy playgroups as is suggested. I don't want to be part of any group that at it's heart excludes half of all parents. When you've got a stay-at-home parent playgroup come talk to me, then I might participate. Besides, Woody Allen said it best, "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member.”

Perhaps the thing I find most interesting is Lindsay's insistence that somehow her excluding dads from her playgroup is akin to dads excluding her from poker night. In the article she says:

Actually, I think “You can’t join our playgroup because you’re a guy” is more like, “Honey, you can’t come to poker night because then the guys won’t feel comfortable farting and cussing and talking about Pamela Anderson’s tits.” But that’s just me.

It is indeed just you Lindsay, and for a number of reasons. First of all, the days of smoke filled basements, where men chew on stogies while playing some five-card draw, and the women are relegated to wearing an apron and delivering sandwiches to the hungry boys are long since over. Those backward bastions of yesteryear are things of legend now, in their place are poker nights where all who bring cash are welcome, be they man, woman, or the occasional dalmatian or bulldog. But the one thing missing from this slice of Vegas on your kitchen table is children. This is adult time, not kiddie time.

See, we aren't dumb or diluted enough to believe for one second that poker night with the boys, girls, and card playing dogs equates to a good time to have a playgroup. We aren't going to sit around scratching our nether regions, sucking on a brew, and discussing the finer points of hard core porn and politics with everyone within earshot while the kids are around. Despite what television commercials and the collective works of Homer Simpson would have you believe, we aren't all bumbling idiots. We know what is and isn't appropriate to discuss around developing young minds. Furthermore, no one is more qualified to broach that particular topic since we are our child's parent and we can shape their impressionable minds any way we see fit (so long as the wife is in agreement). But apparently it's alright to discuss boob jobs, pending divorces, and the latest "so-in-so is banging the gardener" gossip at mommy playgroups. Or at least those are the things that Lindsay leads one to believe.

So really the idea that excluding dads from your playgroup is like you being excluded from poker night with the boys is without merit. If for some strange reason you are excluded from your male friend's poker night, you're welcome at mine. We gladly accept all forms of cash, car title, and deeds to homes. But be prepares to bring plenty of green and be ready to talk about who's is real and who's are "store boughts." But leave the kids at home, this is grown-up time afterall.

The next little tidbit that I wanted to address was the idea that some of the SAHDs that responded to Lindsay on her blog were in agreement with, and supported, her actions. Where I'm confused is where exactly did this take place? You see in Lindsay's post entitled "The SAHD Truth" on her blog Suburban Turmoil, she received 70 comments following the article before closing the post to further comments. (She also used her personal blog to track back to AtHomeDad.org, which is how she came to the conclusion that a lot of her traffic came from that general direction.) Of the 70 comments made, I was responsible for "hand wringing" three of those, so that drops her down to 68, and there were of course others who left several comments, and a few deleted and anonymous posts, so that drops the number of unique comments down even further.

Fortunately, most of the stay-at-home dads who responded didn’t blame me for broaching the subject. “As a member of the other team,” wrote a stay-at-home dad named Mark, “I’ve been on the receiving end of what you describe many times over…. It’s just the way it is.”

In the end, I count seven SAHDs that chimed in on the subject (including myself) and not one came the defense of her actions. And there is no mention of anyone named Mark. (An e-mail perhaps?) Maybe I'm reading that wrong, but those that I know through their blogs, amazing public radio interviews, and via AtHomeDad.org didn't come gallivanting up on a white mount to save the damsel in disillusion. In fact, the majority of people (moms included) that responded in her comments told her how they thought she was wrong, but all along she was unapologetic to the lot of us.

But this mysterious "Mark" brings up the most interesting subject of all... "it's just the way it is."

Bullshit.

"It's just the way it is" is the kind of thing you say when you try to muscle the minority into acceptance of things that aren't right. "It's just the way it is" is the sort of the the haves say to the have-nots. "It's just the way it is" is the thing a defeated stay-at-home dad says when he's lost all hope of ever being accepted.

Well, this stay-at-home dad refuses to accept "it's just the way it is." This stay-at-home dad will not quietly accept, or allow, the exclusion of my child from the chance to play with other children based upon the fact that my sexual reproductive organs happen to be on the outside my body. This stay-at-home dad will not allow individuals to twist his words to their own end without countering their accusations. This stay-at-home dad is committed to ousting mothers like Lindsay Ferrier and her cronies that exclude men from their playgroups because they are men.

Finally, to the SAHD that Lindsay did everything to in the first place. I understand that you may not have a problem with what was done to you or how you are treated. That's certainly your right and I have mad respect for that. But, just as my views and opinions aren't mutually inclusive of SAHDs everywhere, neither are yours. Just as you are alright with everything, there are many of us that aren't. And we aren't the minority, no matter how silent or seemingly willing to accept "it's just the way it is" as some of us may appear.

Sans l'enfant

This is what happens when the wife kicks me in the ass so she could study in peace lets me out to go play without the boy.

Add ice. Shake well.

1. Take a thirty-something gamer turned stay-at-home dad.
2. Add in all the pain and discourse that comes from said stay-at-home dad also being a divorced dad facing the exodus of his child.
3. Throw in a dash of depression.
4. A jigger of agoraphobia.
5. And a splash of insomnia.
6. Add ice.
7. Shake well.

That's how you get a tall, frosty glass of me. Sound appealing?

GwB News: Ubisoft Announces My Weight Loss Coach

As a fat SAHD and gamer this, coupled with the pending Wii Fit, gives me hope that video games might actually do some good for we the portly. Hopefully I'll have my chubby hands on this, and the Wii Fit, soon.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES MY WEIGHT LOSS COACH

New Game to Join "My Coach” Self-Improvement Line

SAN FRANCISCO — February 11, 2008 — Today Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game publishers, announced that it will publish My Weight Loss Coach for the Nintendo DS(TM) system. Developed in Ubisoft's Montreal studio under the guidance of both a fitness coach and a nutritionist, My Weight Loss Coach is a program designed to focus on taking positive steps to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

"My Weight Loss Coach allows us to approach casual gamers with something innovative,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. "The game creates customized coaching sessions based on skill level, and, for the first time on DS, includes a pedometer. My Weight Loss Coach not only allows users to take control of their physical well-being, but it does so in a fun and engaging manner.”

My Weight Loss Coach features include:
• Personal Profiles: Create your personal profile and evaluate your improvement potential, then set up your objectives following the recommendations based on your personal profile

• Input Reward System: Log your progress on a daily or weekly basis, tracking your physical activity and nutrition habits

• The Pedometer: A peripheral device that comes with the game and can be easily updated through your DS, it's the best way to control your daily physical effort, challenge yourself and balance your food intake

• Real-Life Landmark Checkpoints: As a reward, all the physical activities you achieve and good nutrition habits you acquire are converted into measurable distances based on real examples

My Weight Loss Coach is rated E for Everyone by the ERSB and will be available this summer.

The "My Coach” brand, part of Ubisoft's Games for Everyone division, is made up of a series of games that encourages players to improve themselves while being entertained at the same time. Other titles in the brand include: My Word Coach for a stronger vocabulary, and My Spanish Coach and My French Coach for foreign language development.

About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified lineup of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 23 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated sales of 680 million Euros for the 2006-07 fiscal year. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

© 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Ubisoft, Ubi.com, and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2004 Nintendo.

J.A.F.O.

From slashfilm:

Life has a very strange way of playing out. Most creative people will explain to you the law of threes. Stories, jokes, art, movies, everything happens in threes. And I’ve noticed the same thing in life. Things happen in threes. First there was Brad Renfro, than Heath Ledger, and now Roy Scheider is dead at age 75.

The actor best known for playing police chief Brody in Steven Spielberg’s JAWS died on Sunday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock a hospital. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but the actor was diagnosed with myeloma in 2004.

I've always been a fan of Roy's body of work. From Jaws, to Blue Thunder, to 2010, to SeaQuest DSV and more, I've been a lifelong fan. He's one of those remarkable actors that stays with you forever.

Thank you Roy.

Signed,
Just Another F#cking Observer.

GwB Presents: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

(Looks like the dry spell may be over. I haven't received a game to review, DS, Wii, or otherwise, since Mario Party DS way back in November. Oh, thank you Nintendo. You like me. You really, really like me.)

I'll say it once again, the Nintendo DS is my favorite video game system. The size, the games, the ability to sit on the potty and play a game portability, it's a perfect system. So, I'm excited whenever I lay hands on a new title.

Professor Layton and the Curious Village for the Nintendo DS is one of those titles that hearkens back to a simpler time. It's seems that a mystery has presented itself in the village of St. Mystere and it's up to you, as Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke, to solves puzzles to try and figure out what is going on with the town and the people in it.

The title itself is pretty straight forward, talk to characters, gather clues, solve puzzles. That's pretty much the game. The more than 130 puzzles in the game present themselves as the quite well done storyline evolves, and they vary in difficulty from very easy to profanity inducing madness.

What's really exciting about the title is the inclusion of Nintendo Wi-Fi. Via the service, each week for the first half of the year after the game is released, players will be able to download a new puzzle.

This game is fun, there's no better way of saying it. That statement shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering the game came out in Japan almost a year ago and to date has sold more than 12 million copies there. A sequel, Professor Layton and the Devil's Box, is already available there and a third installment is in the works. It will cause nothing but frustration for your little ones, but your tweens and teens should enjoy it. (As should you.)

Professor Layton and the Curious Village for the Nintendo DS will launch February 10th. The game supports one player and it is rated "E" for everyone by the ESRB.

The Waning Light

Less than a month until the light dims 'round these parts. We're faced with the reality that life is about to take a serious downturn. My wife is about to be without her doppleganger, her partner in crime. My son is about to lose the only person that he truly and completely lights up for every time he sees them. I am about to lose my precious little girl.

Before the next thirty days is over, more than 2000 miles will separate my daughter and I. I'm working on a letter to give to her, a vain attempt to quantify my feelings for her. This is the first draft:

My dearest and most precious baby girl,

You are the best daughter that any man could ever be fortunate enough to be blessed with. You came to me at a time in my life that was filled with uncertainty and doubt. I was at the point in every person's lifetime where they begin to question their purpose and what life has in store for them. My purpose and what life had in store for me was answered the first time I held your wrinkled, pink, little body in my arms. My purpose was to be your daddy.

I knew in that one perfect moment that no matter what life had in store for me, I would never again question my purpose because of you. My life had meaning. You gave me meaning.

Once before I was cursed with the pain of being ripped away from you. As much as it hurt me to go through that, I was thankful that you were so young and you wouldn't have to live with the memories of that day. But now, years later, it's all happening again, and this time you're old enough to understand. And to hurt.

I don't want you to live with anger in your heart towards your mother or your step-dad. They both love you very much and they only want a better life for you, a life they feel that would be better lived away from the only home you've ever known. But you have to believe, and you have to know, that no matter the distance that may separate you and I, I will always love you and will always carry you in my heart every moment of the day.

Your brother, your step-mom, and I love you very, very much. You have brought so much joy and happiness into our lives and we are thankful to have you in our lives.

Time and distance can not stop love. Remember what I told you, whenever you feel lonely, whenever you feel like you can't take the pain of missing me or the rest of us that are left here without you, look to those mountains. Remember that your daddy grew up in those mountains. Look upon them, and look to the east where the sun rises and know that I am just beyond that place, waiting and wanting to be with you, and that we aren't that far away.

I love you Sweet Pea.

-Daddy

A haiku

The poop is runny.
Soft liquid waste down his leg.
Time to wash the rug.