Everyone wants to know what we are naming our baby girl. I’ve always been reluctant to really tell anyone what we are naming our children until they are born. Mainly because I’m not really interested in anyone’s opinion on the matter, particularly defending the choice. I don’t mind hearing what names people like in general but I really don’t like hearing the unsolicited phrase “You should name her…” Because Daria and I are going to name her and not anyone else. It’s a basic parental right, if I’m lost I’ll ask for help (who knows I might just need it!). We do have a list. Now we just have to shorten it. This all probably sounds harsh but it is actually just a part of my other policy on names that of claiming and sharing names. I’ll sum it up: Don’t tell me what you plan to or might name your kids unless you don’t mind me using the name too, cuz I just might. I’m happy to hear what names you love but it’s not like calling shotgun (which I do support btw). I love talking names but it’s terrible talking names when your pregnant or want to be pregnant or anyone involved in the conversation falls in the same category. It tends to get emotionally charged. So for now she shall remain nameless!
Category Archives: Opinions
Quotes
Does anyone ever read the quotes on the sidebar of my blog? I collect these and add to them periodically. Many of them I do not remember actually adding at all. Still I find them all stimulating and refreshing. Give it a whirl with the refresh button to see several. Also if you have a short quote you think I should add please email it to me or add it in the comments section.
Here is one I haven’t yet added:
We may convince others by our arguments; but we can only persuade them by their own.
-Joseph Joubert
I found this philosphy very helpful in university when convincing professors of my cause or plight.
Bjorn vs. Kindle
The Kindle is a new electronic book reader from online book purveyor Amazon. It offers the ability to wirelessly download, read, and store dozens of books and is about paperbook size. Most of my reading is currently online, in a dental journal or text, or in my daily newspaper. At this point I don’t see a Kindle in my future. However, if I were planning an extended vacation and wanted to save precious packing space—maybe. If I was a daily public transportation user I think I would have clicked buy-it-now yesterday (if it were available in Canada).
I wonder if a die-hard reader like my brother-in-law would be able to switch from paper to screen. Prediction: Highly unlikely. I suspect Bjorn enjoys the romance of page-turning and looking back at the shelf with fondness. I suspect he also believes in the futurity of books.
The device is priced at $399 US. Interestingly, this is a barrier to me, which is paradoxical because I have been more then willing to buy the similarly priced iPod and Palm Treo in the past. I can only conclude that for me this is not a must have device based on design. Perhaps in person my thoughts will change.
Las Vegas Review
For the third time in as many months I find myself in Las Vegas. Each trip has found me pursuing advanced education in implant surgery and prosthetics. I’m very excited about this field and the remarkable things I have already done. I look forward to pacing my ever expanding knowledge with clinical experience. My passion grows and grows each month on this front.
But enough on that subject. This trip found me at a different venue: the Rio, a good walk from the strip. The Rio is a typical Vegas hotel with pretty good restaurants, and some 70 floors spread over 2 towers. The buffet was the best of the four I have tried in Las Vegas and also the lowest priced! A typical casino resides on the main floor and I am amazed how the motivation for the big win seems to override the boredom of tv screen gambling. Scantily clad women are sprinkled throughout. I spent most of my time in the convention center only catching a half-hour of sun beside the under renovations pool.
Nonetheless, the larger than life presence of Vegas is still a wonder to behold. In particular the incredibly imaginative entertainment. The highlight of the trip by far was The Beatles: Love by Cirque de Soleil (note the trailer does the performance no justice). I have never been more enthralled at a live show. No circus, grandstand, play, or even musical of my experience came close. The story-telling, imagery, costuming, group and individual performances, athleticism, staging, and music were completeley out of this world. At one point I wondered if this show would approach entertainment in the afterlife. Absolutely incredible choreography coupled with the best band of all time created a delirious and delightful experience weaving through each of the creative periods of music produced by the Beatles. I think even the Beatles would approve, and I was left with not a single disappointment. If you haven’t already caught my strong recommendation to see this show let me seal it with this – I absolutely expect anyone travelling to Vegas to attend and an invitation to go with you. I’ll be reliving the experience via my Beatles music collection in the mean time. Perhaps the only way to better experience the Beatles would be an actual Beatles concert.
I’m hoping to take Daria to the show at the end of this month when I return yet again. Anyone else in?
Decisions Decisions
Remember when you couldn’t wait to grow up and make all of your own decisions and be the boss? I’m the boss now, but have realized I have way more bosses now than I ever did before! Daria and I are looking at moving and trying to figure out a lot of numbers and let me tell you I have a lot of people to consult with. There is the bank, the insurance company, the government, the future employer, the utility company, the seller, the agent, the parents (still! still! [but not in a bad way mind you]), the lawyer, the accountant. Just part and parcel of making your dreams come true. It’s kind of like annoying packaging on that sweet morsel your trying to unwrap, or all the brand new DVD’s with their 16 double-layered adhesive strips or 8 annoying must-watch previews before the feature.
But then you get to the sweet morsel, or you finally get to the sweet menu and it’s aaaallllll goood.
