Packing List for a Trip with Toddler

In addition to our own gear, we are bringing on our trip to Philadelphia and the beach an assortment of the following:

• Diapers, size 4 (approx. 40)
  
• Swim diapers, small
  
• Wipes
  
• Diaper cream
  
• Stroller
  
• Backpack carrier
  
• Portable play yard/crib (i.e. Pack N Play)
  
• Bag of toys
  
  • Pop beads
    
  • Mega Blocks
    
  • Soft ball
    
  • Julia mug
    
  • Plastic car
    
• Mr. Quackers (soft stuffed duck, current preferred toy animal)
  
• Snacks
• Cheerios
• Goldfish crackers
• Apple juice boxes
• Bananas
  
• Books
  
  • I Am a Bunny
    
  • Maisy's Best Friends
    
  • One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
  
  

Through the storm

A thunderstorm was blowing in as Julia and I left Nicky's house last night, so I got her in the car and hurried off to try to beat the rain. The drops started falling as we drove away on our 2-mile journey home and quickly turned to a downpour. With the wipers on full blast, and proceeding at a slow and steady pace, I wasn't too worried. Then we turned onto Sligo Creek Parkway and the wind had picked up dramatically. Pieces of debris began to fall from the trees onto the roof of the car. Now I really wanted to get home. Then a branch fell in front of us on the road, and we had to stop and drive around it. I decided a wooded parkway wasn't the best route to be taking, so we got off onto the residential streets and had to wind our way around back toward home. Traffic lights were out at every intersection and turning left across 3 lanes of traffic on Colesville Road was no picnic. We had to get back on the Parkway to make the last bit of the trip; the wind had died down, the road was littered with leaves and branches, and the creek threatened to spill its banks. Reaching our neighborhood at last, we found that two of the routes in were blocked by fallen tree limbs. We finally got to our house just as the rain stopped, only to discover that the power was out. We were without electricity for another 5 hours, but very glad to be home.

Julia, of course, seemed totally unfazed by the whole experience and, if anything, was enjoying the sight of trees waving in the wind.

Down on the farm

Mama and Julia feeding the goats on our recent trip to Homestead Farms, a pick-your-own farm in western Montgomery County. 

New Sensation

So I'm watching "Rock Star," the reality show to find a replacement for Michael Hutchence in INXS. It's a strange concept and a little bit morbid. I won't claim to be the biggest INXS fan ever, but I do have most of their CDs, and I've seen them in their heyday (huge outdoor amphitheater show on the Kick tour) and trailing end (a crowd of 500 or so at the Boathouse in Norfolk in 1997 — which kicked ass by the way; we were eating out of Michael Hutchence's hand before the night was over). But even non-fans can agree that he was one of the best front men ever. So to think he can be replaced, and by a televised contest, seems ... I don't know ... sad.

Or is it brilliant? This isn't the first band to lose a member, particularly to tragic circumstances, and replace them. This is the era of reality TV. And INXS have been out of even a minimal public eye for 7 years. How better to plug a new album and begin touring again than with a weekly commercial, er competition?

Either way, right now, if this is the best 15 people they could find worldwide, why do some of them suck so much? Based on tonight's performances, my money is on Ty. He knows he's auditioning to front INXS, not the Who, or Motley Crue, or Nirvana. They need charismatic pop rock singing, not classic rock wailing, or punk screaming, or indie mumbling.

Phoenix, the Fourth and fish

We survived our Phoenix trek without incident and Julia was a very good traveler, charming various people in airports far and near. She didn't even complain when she got carsick riding back down the mountain from the reunion to Phoenix. Everyone was happy to see her and she was only a little shy around the new gang of relatives.

It was nice to have the following weekend as a 3-day holiday to rest and recover. On Sunday, we visited the carousel at Wheaton Regional Park which Julia enjoyed very much, as well as lots of general running to and fro. The fireworks were starting a little too late Monday night for a baby girl and working parents, so we spent the evening instead in our next-door neighbors' back yard with several others from the block. It was absolutely beautiful, the first non-scorching July 4 weekend I can remember in ages.

This weekend we are planning a little road trip up I-95 to Baltimore to the Inner Harbor, and the National Aquarium in particular, for our little fish lover's benefit.