Holiday Baby

The world just stopped spinning. As I write this TGIF edition, my daughter-in-law is going through labor.

This is their first baby. My third grandchild. Boy, are we excited. Even my wife who normally prepares for bed at this time is re-energized by the delivery. The whole family in different parts of the world is awake as if we were there present and pushing with the Mom.

I don’t know why, but I suspected today, July 2, must be the middle day of the year. So I Googled it up and sure enough, today IS the exact middle with 182 days before and 182 days after. How cool is that? I guess this is one of the first trivia that will accompany the story-telling for years to come.

The parents didn’t want us to know the sex of the baby. They wanted it to be a surprise. They were secretive throughout the pregnancy. I’ve been saying it’s gonna be a girl. Who knows? We don’t even know its name for sure. Boy or girl is not important. I know I’m going to love it to death. By the time I need to launch this email, the baby will still be finding its way into this world. I’ll let you know if it’s a “he” or a “she.”

I’m so excited, it’s hard to focus on this article. All I can think of are babies, babies, babies — beautiful eyes, a beautiful nose, 10 fingers, 10 toes, curly hair, dimples, chubby cheeks, kissable lips, baby breath — Oh God! Please make the baby healthy. Please help Mom push. Help Dad give support at the right time. Be with the doctors and the nurses … guide their hands.

I’m sure many of you can relate to my giddiness. We’ve all shared this expectation at one time or another. I hope this email will remind you of your own family. May our appreciation never fade … even when our kids test the limits of our patience. May our kids bring us the bountiful joyful spice of life.

Isn’t it wonderful that we have this direct line to the Creator of the universe? I can feel his love and warm embrace. I know He loves the little one and I pray that the little one will love God back throughout her life. May God’s blessing overflow and may she bless all she encounters. For I pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today is Christmas in (literally) the middle of the year. TGIF people! Have a glorious 4th of July weekend!

Raoul

“Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a reward from Him.” — Psalm 127:3

Speaking of the 4th of July holiday, think about this:

Video of the Week

A collection of cute babies

(This guy in 3:02 minutes of the video looks like a younger version of me)

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington DC for all these baby jokes.

This is what a helping hand looks like
The guy in the back is the supervisor!

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Trust you all had a safe and happy 4th of July celebration. My wife and I had planned a day of fun at Malibu’s Zuma Beach, but found it was closed along with all other L.A. County beaches. Not a problem, we understand the theme of taking a couple steps backwards in a united front to defeat the deadly C-19 that has been savaging our nation.  Unfortunately the concept of good citizenship is alien to many of our bad citizens who think the spreading of the virus to our most vulnerable, by not adhering to the L.A County mandate of wearing masks and social distancing, is their right under the constitution. But isn’t this a national crisis? We came together during WWII, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and were once quarantined in L.A. homes due to the Rodney King riots. Police departments have been instructed to give fines to offenders, but are having difficulties coordinating it with L.A. County officials. So far it’s just been warnings and handing out masks. The City of West Hollywood, however, is now offering fines.  Surround by L.A. proper, the city is small and easy to maintain. In a blow to travel, the E.U. has banned all travel from the U.S. as a result of the polarization of the pandemic by our Executive Office. We now lead the world with infections, with Brazil and Russia behind us. With exception of Sweden, the E.U stats of the spread of the virus have actually flattened, while ours is shooting straight up into the sky to an unknown destination. And what’s this from our Executive Office: by eliminating testing the cases will magically go down and soon C-19 will disappear. Perhaps this is a plan we should administer to people with the fear of cancer; the less tests and the cases of cancer will disappear.

Nevertheless, my spouse and I drove around the city’s canyons; once former lima bean farms, basking in its beauty of transplanted palm trees and endless array of brilliant desert vegetation. We found a small pocket park, about half a block in size, on Sunset Boulevard, across the street from the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. We sat on shaded park benches, reading, talking and eventually taking photographs. It’s a famous landmark park, dedicated to Will Rogers, and a popular site for wedding photographs. Charlie Chaplin shot part of his silent film masterpiece, The Idle Class there, and the Beverly Hills Hotel itself was on the cover of the Eagles LP, Hotel California.

When the 4^th of July sun went down, we were disturbed to find Los Angeles County residents were ignoring the fireworks ban and lighting the sky with illegal fireworks.  The Los Angeles Fire Department claimed it responded to more than 100 fires, and the next morning unhealthy smoke blanketed the city. The city of Lancaster actually defied the fireworks ban, with mayor Rex Parris stating,  The only thing that will stops us is handcuffs. Is this blatant defiance of Law and Order an ugly precursor of things to come? We hope and pray that bad  citizens come to terms with this crisis, and realize that they and the Executive Office are the problem. Together, standing united, we can fix it.

And remember Covid-19 Direct Relief,  who addresses the courage of health workers on the front lines, honoring them with meaningful support, and the people most at risk in this pandemic are cared for – regardless of politics, religion, or ability to pay.

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Fourth of July

Nothing much to say today because it’s the end of the 4th of July. Spending time with my lovely wife. We went out for a walk in the park then bought groceries. Lots of people buying at my favorite Mexican grocery store. On the way home I noticed the few cars on the road. Seems like many have left for more “vacationy” spots.

How was your 4th of July? People need to escape from the city, but me … I like staying home with my wife. I must be getting old. How about you?

TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Best Commercials of 2018
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Parting Shot

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this.

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