Yesterday, I ground up some unlabeled coffee beans in hope that they were caffeinated. Everything seemed to be going fine until I got off my train. When leaving the subway, I couldn't decide which set of stairs to take. Should I take the north stairs or the south stairs? Then, when I got above ground, I couldn't decide in which building I should study; library or alumni hall? Finally I stumbled to the library cafe and got some caffeine from a machine that urinates coffee into a cup. It was OK coffee.

Unfortunately, I've adulturated the pure caffienated coffee with the flavored uncaffienated coffee. My plan this morning was to mix the gross Martinson's coffee (a suboptimal pre-ground variety) with the adulturated Melitta. I added enough Martinson's to ensure adequate caffiene dosing and enough adulturated-flavored-decaf/Melitta to palliate the granular-dirty flavor of the Martinsons.

In fairness, Jill warned me that the coffee I might drink yesterday could be decaf. I told her, "I'm prepared for that possibility."

Miraculously, the Giants squeaked by the Cowboys in the second round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday. I couldn't believe it. The Giants have no real running back, no defense, and an-occaisionally-passable-brother-of-a-great-quarterback. In a rare freak event, the Packers will host them Sunday at 6:30 EST.

I try to prepare myself for disappointment, but it's hard not to be optimistic. The Packers had ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE going down to Dallas to play on astroturf before Jerry Jones' God. Dallas really has some legitimate talent, too. Their QB is the real deal, Romo is not brother-of-the-real-deal.

The Packers stumbled ass backwards into a great season. They got some new rookies, Jones WR, and their defense has really come together. They have a couple of no-name running backs that seem to be kicking serious ass, and they've managed to cling to their two excellent tackles and rebuild the interior of their O line. The D line, with no stars save the over-hyped KGB, seems to be playing well too. Brett Favre has more than one receiver who can catch the ball, and even a few who are fast.

I honestly cannot believe this situation. As you may be able to tell, I'm trying to gear up for a major disappointment.

Go Pack Go!!

I went to Kenosha to visit my mom and attend Charlie Malinsky's wake. Mom was pretty broken up about it, she had a hard time dealing with her grief. They had been partners in a law practice and more. Charlie was cremated, at his own insistence, and the pictures of him that they had really reminded us of the things we liked best about him. He loved to cook and sail. He loved his dog, Smitty. He was always a big fan and supporter of yours truly. His kids have been great to my mom since I've been out East; they shovel her snow and help her with her car sometimes. He was always generous to a fault. I had a hard time dealing with his generosity, I always judged him to be bad at business. I hope a wiser judge is ruling on his case now.

I was glad I went, but I missed my train on the return flight and chose to spend the night in the airport rather than pay for a cab home. That sounds like something a crazy-street-person might do, but actually, airports are pretty safe. Everyone who gets into the airport has to pay at least $200, they don't have any weapons, and they certainly don't have any toiletries larger than 3 oz. I found a bench with no arm rests that I slept on. If was comfortable, except for the but-contoured-seating that kept spearing me. I would sleep for 45 minutes or so and then wake up. I caught the 5:09 AM train out of the airport and got home at 6. I slept in until 9 AM. I used the $40 I saved in cab fair to take Jill and the kids to Old Country Buffet the next day. I also bought some diapers.

Ben has figured out how to use the sink drain. He shuts the drain, turns on the water, and splashes like crazy in this creation.

Last week, May came in to the kitchen while we were cleaning up and said, "Guess what? Benjamin and I just traded cookies! I game him my cookie, he gave me his cookie!"

Jill, "Oh."

Me, "Did you get a larger portion of cookie from him than the one you gave?"

May grinned from ear to ear and said "YES!"

We didn't have a party to go to last night, so Jill babysat for our friends Kris and Keith on New Year's Eve. We were torn about it, but they had a party to go to and we didn't want to hire a babysitter and go to a bar or restaurant where we didn't know anyone, and, other than my wife, no-one wants to babysit on NY'sE. If you don't have kids, wouldn't you rather go out and party?

Anyway, I stayed up late riding my excercycle and reading. Then just before midnight, I called Jill on the phone and we counted down together.

Because we were up so late, the kids got up extra early. May woke up about 6:30, and Ben a short while later. Ben screamed and yelled to make certain that neither of his parents could sleep.

After breakfast, Ben cheered up. He blew on his kuzoo (shaped like a trumpet) and ran around in a twelve-inch-diameter circle, alternately jumping and flapping his arms. May quietly read The Lorax and said, "Quiet, Benjamin. I'm trying to read."

My mom's ex-law partner died on Sunday, so I'm flying to Ohare today. I fly back very late tomorrow.