2k6 Holiday and other wrap up

Hannukah was off the hook.

As was Christmas - a 3 day trip to Philly (or the 'burbs) and we got to chill with Gigi and Grandad and Aunt Kate- we all had a ton of fun, and the boys (and John and Roni) really enjoyed the family bonding and the gifts!

On Tuesday, we stopped by Roni's aunt and uncle's house, and saw Unlce John and Aunt Sandy, cousins Corrine and Jesse, cousins Andy, Laura, and Amy (happy b-day Amy!), and Bubby and Pop. A great lunch, good company, and a on of playing.

Lily is still in the NICU - she was off the incubator and in a bassinett for a while, but because of some issues is back in the incubator. She is doing OK, and has gained 8 oz since birth - good news for sure.

OKAY - so I know nobobdy cares, but I'm gonna list my favorite albums of 2006 (there is bias here as its only amongst the albums I have heard.) Embarrisingly enough my list looks like I bit off Pitchfork to increase my hipster appeal - but whatever.

No order, per se..

1) The Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury. Kick ass hip-hop from Va Beach.
2) Girl Talk - Night Ripper. the ultimate party album - Nas meets the Pixies meets Biggiee meets Elton John meets Young Jeezy meets Nirban meets Boston...and on and on to the break of dawn.
3) Spank Rock - YoYoYoYo.... an incredibly dirty and funky party album.
4) Kylesa - Time Will Fuse It's Worth. Melody, metal, punk and energy.
5) Mission of Burma - The Obliterati. If only I could rock like these 50-something dudes like right now.
6) Legendary Shack Shakers..PANDELIRIUM - with guest appearances by Jello Biafra and the Rev. Horton Heat, no less..
7) Converge - No Heroes. This effin smokes - hardcore is apparently NOT dead.
8) Johanna Newsom - Ys - whatever, however weird this is, however warbly, pretentious, off key etc.. This is an amazing album.
9) Ghostface Killah - Fishscale. This guy is an amazing storyteller, to say the least.
10) Be Your Own Pet - self titled. Youngun's from Tennesess bring some serious light a fire under your ass approach to pop punk.

I also dug The Hold Steady (Boys and Girls in America), TV on the Radio (Return to Cookie Mountain), and Wooly Mammoth.
Still gotta hear the new Tom Waits, Mastodon, Liars, Lupe Fiasco, etc..

Happy 2k7!

What a weekend!

First of all, Happy Hannukah (insert another spelling if you prefer) !

On Friday we lit candles, and gave Micah and Emmet their presents - a camping theme was this year's Hannukah story. Sleeping bags, flaslights and two tents - one that will seemingly accomodate a family of seven plus den (damn they make these big!), and another more pedestrian one room tent - which of course we HAD to set up in the living room - and this "smaller" tent took up the whole room. Looking forward to camping it up with Rafe, Alex, Amina, Karl, Aimee, Caleb and many others come spring (or even in January given the weather patterns these days).

On Saturday we went to Wilmington DE to visit sister and brother-in-law, Aaron and Deborah and celebrate Hannukan with them and Roni's folks. Micah and Emet got another round of kick-ass presents, but as sibling rivalry would have it, the two have been duking it out over the Spiderman scooter Micah received.

More importanly we got to go visit new niece (and seriously motivated pree-mie) Lily. I was thrilled - I went to the NICU and got to chill with Lily - she even grabbed my finger. She's beautiful, and I'm so excited - here's a pic:

Bloggin' is what we do best

So come and oout your bloggin' skills to the test. Well, actually, apparently, blogging is NOT what I do best..so sorry for the lapse.

Anyhow, a lot of good and bad to recount over the past two weeks:

1) Deborah and Aaron, my sister and brother in law, recently relocated to Wilmington DE from Madison WI - we are thrilled to have them so close. Deborah was pregnant with child and out on immmediate hosital bed rest about 4 weeks ago - on Friday via emergency C-section at 28 weeks or so, Lily Pearl Nathans came into the world. Albeit a light 3 something pounds, with a lot of potential comorbities for being so premature, Lily is a figter - and beautiful (pix to come soon) - her prognois is improving by the day, Deborah is recovering, and we all are so excited! Micah and Emmet's first first-cousin, and I'm an uncle, Roni and aunt!

2) Emmet is growing in leaps and bounds as is Micah! Emmet's vocab has gone through the roof and he is in the biz of near complete sentences everyday, So much fun..

3) I'm teaching up a storm, preparing to teach some more in January, and then on "sabbatical" from mid-January to mid June. I've really gotta focus on and finish my thesis. I'm a little worried about hvaing total time to devote to research and writing as I really prefer student and consultant style interaction, but hey you do what you gotta do.

4) Johanna Newsome rules!

Back at you soon with photos and such. Hope all are having a great December!

J$