Family and Friends

The best

It was the second day of life for my second child. I was lying down on the “daddy cot” in my wife’s room at the hospital. My newborn child was lying on my chest, peacefully sleeping away the first hours of his life. A visitor was there and remarked, “these are the best days of Adam’s life.” I have this terrible contrarian streak in me, so naturally my mind leapt…
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Family and Friends

Delivery

At 1:38 p.m. a painful, yet blessedly brief chapter in Cheryl’s life came to a close. Adam Kauffman was born. After witnessing the pain, the fatigue, and the fear of childbirth, Adam’s emergence into our world brought tears to my eyes. To see a child being born is to see an epic struggle. In this case it was Cheryl versus the pain and the keeper of the painkillers. Cheryl ultimately…
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Family and Friends

Time again

Midnight is a good time for sleeping. It is a good time for the lights to be out and everyone to be tucked securely into a snug cocoon of warmth, the mind occupying itself only with the business of oblivion. Of course, that was not to be my lot in life on this night. Cheryl and I had been home from the hospital for all of twelve hours, and I had been asleep for a fraction of that, when Cheryl…
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Wellbeing

Reality bites back

Realizing you have done more before 6 a.m. than you usually do all day is a sobering thought. Army recruiting adds not withstanding, it kind of makes me want to go out and fix the sobriety problem. Ah, but I’m a stimulant kind of guy. What use would I have for America’s Favorite Depressant? Earlier this morning, It was a mere five hours after I laid my head down to sleep when I had the…
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Kitchen Sink

Advanced driving techniques

Good afternoon boys and girls, my name is Mr. Kauffman and I’ll be your instructor in Advanced Driving Techniques. We’re going to jump right in this afternoon, but first I wanted to start you off with a little primer. The most important, least understood, and most rewarding concept in advanced driving techniques is watching where you are going. That’s right – I’m…
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Family and Friends

Electric company

Another weekend, another hurricane, ho hum. We once again found ourselves an island of electricity in a sea of powerlessness. We once again had some family and friends over to share our power, and generally had a good time. My good time was sponsored by Mikes Hard Limeade, the premium malt beverage with the refreshing taste of lime. Live hard. Drink Mike’s. There’s nothing like a Bucs…
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CoffeeFamily and Friends

Fear and loathing in suburbia

What is the worst thing that could happen at Starbucks? I found out today. I was looking to make use of my Starbucks card (a much appreciated thank you gift from one of my co-workers), so we stopped by there on our way home from Beth’s haircut. Well unless Chicago is on the way from Seattle to Los Angeles, I guess Starbucks was not exactly on the way, but what the hell. I could use a little…
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Going for BrokeImportant Stuff

Government v. Business, revisited

When conservatives say that government should be run more like a business, I hope to God they’re not referring to the insurance business. Let me start by saying, the facts of the case I’m about to explain are mostly undisputed. The involved parties are: me, my wife, my daughter’s doctor, my daughter’s specialist, our insurance company, and our pharmacist. Here are the…
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Travel

Drive time entertainment

Yesterday afternoon I was driving behind a clunky, beat up, fire-hydrant red, 1972 Chevy P.O.S. (Now available with matching driver.) Just picture the guy given chase by Michael Douglas and Karl Malden to complete your mental picture. He was driving beside a small, clean, 1998 Mitsubishi Galant (with matching female driver). The driver of the P.O.S. was beckoning to the other driver like he was…
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Kitchen Sink

Inadequacies

There was an interesting quote in a book I just finished reading. It went something like this, “Physics majors see something and will ask, ‘why does that work.’ Engineering majors will ask, ‘why does that work?’ A psychology major will ask, ‘do you want fries with that?'” If you like, you could substitute the word “psychology” with just about…
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