First (Real) Doctor's Visit!!!!

So today we took the little lady to her first (real) doctor's visit with our pediatrician. Our pediatrician went on vacation the day Mackenzie was born and returned the day after her two week check-up, so this was the first time he saw her.
They weighed her (10 pounds - 25th percentile) and measured her (23 3/4 inches - 90th percentile). And at the end they stuck her with three needles which was the most horrible thing I have even been through.
The scream of terror is indescribable, and I fear that she will blame me for that pain for years to come. Other than that, she was a very good girl, considering that she was super tired, half-naked, and very hungry.

And now for something ..........

Happy girl

So I turned one week old last night. To celebrate we had a low key evening: movie, ice cream and q.t. with mom, dad and grandma. Auntie #6 came over also!
To top it off, I let mom and dad sleep a lot more - almost 7 hours (not in a row of course)!
Anyways, I have a pretty low key second week of life planned. But then things are going to get crazy. My cousin Mark is coming to Reno for his one year bday party and I get to meet him and Uncle #5 and Aunt #10.
Mark has already distinguished himself as one of the top competitors on the mom-push go-cart circuit so I can't wait to hear his racing stories.

June 18

So Mackenzie decided to join us on June 18. I will never forget that day. The 18th of June is occupied with great achievements by famous women throughout history, or at least american history. For example, in addition to the birth of Mackenzie....

1429 - French forces under the leadership of Joan of Arc defeat the main English army under Sir John Fastolf at the Battle of Patay. This turns the tide of the Hundred Years' War.

1873 - Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.

1928 - Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she was a passenger; Wilmer Stutz was the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).

1983 - Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

Other facts about June 18th:

Before Mackenzie's birth, there seems to be an absense of famous people born on June 18. However, among those sharing Mackenzie's birthday, John D. Rockefeller IV, U.S. Senator was born in 1936, Roger Ebert, American film reviewer was born in 1942, and Sir Paul McCartney, English singer and songwriter (The Beatles) was also born in 1942.

You can check out the Library of Congress or wikipedia for other things that happened on various days.

Back at Home

Well we have succesfully made it through the first few days in my new home. I love hanging out with my mom and grandma: not sure about that guy they call "dad," he seems like he is in way over his head. Hope he makes it.
Anyways, I had my first bath today and last night I let my mom and dad have about 3 hours of sleep, so things are good.

Few more pics.....

Here are a few more pics of me, Big Mack (now that I am around full time, I may guest blog from time to time).

Dad says I have have been great, and I think I am going to take mom and dad home tomorrow. I got a few shots today so I am not speaking to the nurse right now, but with grandma and the rest of the Kansas clan out to hang out with me, I have plenty of people to hang out with.

Anyways, enough blogging, dad wants to hold me.

Father's Day Plans

Well a year ago, I had plans for Father's Day. They had just announced that they were going to have an Ironman 70.3 in Lawrence, KS - my old college stomping grounds. I thought, can't pass that up. Well things happen, and this Father's Day, rather than racing for 5 hours, I will most likely be a daddy.
But my friend Mike answered the challenge and is signed up and ready to go on Sunday. For those interested, you can check it out at www.ironmankansas.com.
Mike is bib #1045.
As for me. There is always next year. Hoepfully Mike will do a good job this weekend, and then next year there will be a larger former-KU-swimmer contingent racing.
Good luck Mike!
As for the rest of you..... better start training for next year!

Numb What????

This is GREAT!



Thanks to #5 for the link.

Big Mack

Here are the latest pics of the little one - taken yesterday. She is getting a little upset with the paparazzi trying to catch her in compromising photos, so these may be the only ones until the big day.

So there is a small pool started with the arrival date and the weight. My pick has always been June 5, and I think she will weigh in at a beefy 6 lbs 11 ozs.

Recent Travels

Well amidst Baby Watch 2008, there have been a few other adventures....


A week after spending the night in the hospital with #13 and some contractions, I flew down to Vegas with my dad. He had a deposition; I had a hearing. The hearing was fine, but let's just say the trip was . . . . a nightmare. Enough said about that.


Two days later, still nervous that the little tyke would poke her head out any day, my dad and I boarded a plane to go to Pasadena for a 9th Circuit BAP argument. Usually LA is terrible and going there for anything is a pain. But, on the good advice of my brother, we flew into Burbank, and 20 minutes after getting our rental car, we were in Pasadena.


If you haven't seen the Ninth Circuit Courthouse in Pasadena, it is quite amazing, at least as far as courthouses go.

And making the trip even better was the fact that the next morning at breakfast, we ran into our opposing counsel who informed us that - while my brother, dad and I were enjoying a nice dinner outside - she had a two hour shuttle ride from LAX the night before.

Well the hearing went great, and all that is left is to wait for the decision.

Anyways, a few days later, some of #13's great friends from Chicago flew in for a weekend up at Tahoe. And then this last weekend we have some good friends from Sacramento come up to spend the weekend in Tahoe as well.

Random Fact - Fishing Spiders

I don't know why, but the little fact at the end of this blurb (from Wikipedia) caught my eye. I just think that the strange ways species protect themselves is pretty interesting.

Dolomedes is a genus of spiders of the family Pisauridae. They are also known as fishing spiders or dock spiders. Almost all Dolomedes species are semi-aquatic, with the exception of the tree-dwelling D. albineus in the southwestern United States and the grassland spider D. minor in New Zealand.

Like all pisaurids, female Dolomedes carry their egg sacs in their chelicerae, and use silk to build a nursery web. These nursery webs are built shortly before the spiderlings emerge from the eggsac. The female places the eggsac in the nursery web and the spiderlings emerge within twenty four hours. The spiderlings of most North American Dolomedes species remain in the web for one week, and then disperse en masse.

D. triton, the six-spotted fishing spider, lives primarily in small lakes and ponds. This spider consumes mostly water striders, but like all Dolomedes, is an opportunistic ambush hunter that will eat anything that it can capture.

What is particularly cool about this spider is that it can detach its legs to escape preditors. As you can see in the picture below, this fishing spider is missing two of its legs. A predator likely grabbed the spider by the limbs, which the spider jettisoned in response - a process known as autotomy.

Pretty cool. I can't wait to share this random info with my daughter.

M.I.A.

So I have been missing lately. Things have been getting pretty crazy at home with the baby coming. It is amazing how many things need to be done before she gets here - build dressers, bookshelves, cribs; buy clothing, supplies, strollers, diaper genies; clean the baby's room, paint; etc. On top of all of that, we thought our little one was going to be making a suprise appearance and spent the night in the hospital on Monday night while the doctor's tried to stop #13's contractions. I guess delivering the baby at 34 weeks is a bit early, so hopefully the baby can stay indoors for a few more weeks.
Things have also been crazy at work as I prepare for a number of hearings and depositions this month.
Oh, by the by, hospitals are the WORST place to try and get some sleep. There is always something going on that keeps you up: alarms, nurses coming in and out checking on #13, people in the hallways, etc.

White men can't jump????

Well maybe they can jump, but as you can see by this video, there is a BIG difference between jumping and DUNKING!
Arthur and Rush are just in a different league!

KANSAS JAYHAWKS - NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!

For all of the years when Kansas was SOOOOO close, and even those years when KU should have been close, but was upset in the first few rounds.... This more than makes up for it.

What a year! What a tournament! What a final game!!!!

Oldie But Goodie

I was at lunch today with my brother and was telling him about this Craig's List posting that a trader friend from NYC had sent me a while back. It was hilarious.

Because I like nothing better than sharing, here it is for you to enjoy.

This is a personal add that was posted on Craig’s List in NYC a while back:

What am I doing wrong?
Okay, I'm tired of beating around the bush. I'm a beautiful (spectacularly beautiful) 25 year old girl. I'm articulate and classy. I'm not from New York . I'm looking to get married to a guy who makes at least half a million a year. I know how that sounds, but keep in mind that a million a year is middle class in New York City, so I don't think I'm overreaching at all.

Are there any guys who make 500K or more on this board? Any wives? Could you send me some tips? I dated a business man who makes average around 200 - 250. But that's where I seem to hit a roadblock. 250,000 won't get me to central park west. I know a woman in my yoga class who was married to an investment banker and lives in Tribeca, and she's not as pretty as I am, nor is she a great genius. So what is she doing right? How do I get to her level?

Here are my questions specifically:

- Where do you single rich men hang out? Give me specifics- bars, restaurants, gyms

-What are you looking for in a mate? Be honest guys, you won't hurt my feelings

-Is there an age range I should be targeting (I'm 25)?

- Why are some of the women living lavish lifestyles on the upper east side so plain? I've seen really 'plain jane' boring types who have nothing to offer married to incredibly wealthy guys. I've seen drop dead gorgeous girls in singles bars in the east village. What's the story there?

- Jobs I should look out for? Everyone knows - lawyer, investment banker, doctor. How much do those guys really make? And where do they hang out? Where do the hedge fund guys hang out?

- How you decide marriage vs. just a girlfriend? I am looking for MARRIAGE ONLY

Please hold your insults - I'm putting myself out there in an honest way. Most beautiful women are superficial; at least I'm being up front about it. I wouldn't be searching for these kind of guys if I wasn't able to match them - in looks, culture, sophistication, and keeping a nice home and hearth.


And this is an answer that was posted:

I read your posting with great interest and have thought meaningfully about your dilemma. I offer the following analysis of your predicament. Firstly, I'm not wasting your time, I qualify as a guy who fits your bill; that is I make more than $500K per year. That said here's how I see it.

Your offer, from the prospective of a guy like me, is plain and simple a cr@ppy business deal. Here's why. Cutting through all the B.S., what you suggest is a simple trade: you bring your looks to the party and I bring my money. Fine, simple. But here's the rub, your looks will fade and my money will likely continue into perpetuity...in fact, it is very likely that my income increases but it is an absolute certainty that you won't be getting any more beautiful!

So, in economic terms you are a depreciating asset and I am an earning asset. Not only are you a depreciating asset, your depreciation accelerates! Let me explain, you're 25 now and will likely stay pretty hot for the next 5 years, but less so each year. Then the fade begins in earnest. By 35 stick a fork in you!

So in Wall Street terms, we would call you a trading position, not a buy and hold...hence the rub...marriage. It doesn't make good business sense to "buy you" (which is what you're asking) so I'd rather lease. In case you think I'm being cruel, I would say the following. If my money were to go away, so would you, so when your beauty fades I need an out. It's as simple as that. So a deal that makes sense is dating, not marriage.

Separately, I was taught early in my career about efficient markets. So, I wonder why a girl as "articulate, classy and spectacularly beautiful" as you has been unable to find your sugar daddy. I find it hard to believe that if you are as gorgeous as you say you are that the $500K hasn't found you, if not only for a tryout.

By the way, you could always find a way to make your own money and then we wouldn't need to have this difficult conversation.

With all that said, I must say you're going about it the right way. Classic "pump and dump."

I hope this is helpful, and if you want to enter into some sort of lease, let me know.

I'm a Real Boy, er, Cyclist

There are some things in life that by their very nature are a right of passage; first kiss (dating life), getting your drivers license (freedom), birth of first child (parenthood), etc.

Well yesterday I had one of those "right of passage" moments. You see, I have been doing triathlons and riding my bike for a number of years (off and on). And until yesterday, I had never crashed. So on my way home from my noon ride yesterday, I entered the ranks of "cyclist" - a label that I am told is only attained upon, among other things, the successful completion of a road race, the shaving of one's legs, and a good crash!

Anyways, crusing home I was turning right into a little neighborhood when I felt my front wheel get a bit "mushy" and it became a bit difficult to control - Apparently it is a bit difficult to turn when you get a flat tire. Go figure. Anyways, I was leaning into the turn and my front wheel followed by my back wheel) came out from under me. My hip took the brunt of the initial impact before I slid across the pavement.

All in all, it wasn't too bad. Could have been much worse. My hands stung a bit and I got a little road rash on the fore arm and hip.

The thing that is driving me nuts now is my broken thumb. You would be amazed how hard it is to button your pants/shirt without the use of a thumb.

Anyways, it is handy having a brother around who is an orthopedic surgeon. I got right in and got an x-ray. First crash - first broken bone!

Few things I learned from this experience: (1) gauze pads were created by the devil and Tegaderm is the cat's meow (thanks for the heads up John); (2) I would much rather fall on a bike that most other injuries - it happens so fast that you don't have much time to react and as long as you don't break your collarbone (most common cycling break), you will not be too bad; and (3) road rash stings like hell when you first get in the shower.

Beware! Crackdown on NCAA Pools....

If this year is anything like 2005, BE CAREFUL!!!!

As some of you may recall (most will not), American jails "flooded over" in 2005 after law enforcement officials conducted a nationwide NCAA March Madness bracket sting. In total "[a]bout 67 million people were rounded up, which experts said exceeded the government's expectations by 'almost 67 million people.'"

So keep those office pools quiet and be vigilant!

To get the full flavor of what happened in 2005, click here.

Kansas #1 in Midwest Region

The Bear Stearns "banksters"

Most people who pay attention to the financial news have been mesmerized by the Bear Stearns fiasco. This is the biggest fraud since Enron and another good reason why you cannot rely on the government to protect you or your money.

A little background, in January 2007, Bear was worth about $20 billion and was trading at about $175 per share. Last Friday Bear had a market value of about $3.5 billion. Last night, it sold for $236 million to JP Morgan, a price that is far lower than the book value of the building that it owns; estimated to be worth about $1.3 billion. Now, Bear and JP Morgan contend that this price is preferable to filing bankruptcy; however, if Bear were forced to file for bankruptcy, all of its payments over the last 90 days prior to filing bankruptcy would have to be repaid to the company under the 90-day lookback provision of the bankruptcy code. If that happens, it would most likely be revealed that Bear paid out billions, that's right, BILLIONS of dollars to its employees and executives last January as bonuses. Now where does the government come into this? Well last week, before the $2 JP Morgan offer was announced, JP Morgan, with the backing of the Federal Reserve, announced a plan to bail out Bear Stearns and guarantee Bear's financial future. The current $2 sham offer is also backed by Uncle Sam; which of course means that you, as a taxpayer are paying for this bail-out.

As the "gentleman" in the following video says it much better, the american taxpayer is paying for the Bear Stearns executives' maseratis.



And on the funnier side, Jim Cramer, the blowhard who is tolerable for about 4.5 seconds, said last week on CNBC that there was NOTHING to worry about, and if you were to take your money out of Bear, you would be silly, silly, silly.



Oh really? Bear Stearns has dropped from $30 per share to a little over $4 per share today.

Let the games begin.

(Thanks to #5 for the videos)

Introducing Eve Marie

My new niece - Eve Marie .....