I Need a Bench Rest (I think)

Sweet freakin' relief. 

I finally got iChat working between my computer and my mother's new computer. I can now chat with my mom on line and she can see her grandchildren through video chat. And, more importantly, I can take over her computer when I need to fix something, or show her how to do something, or do something for her.

Sorry, but this was driving me nuts. I didn't realize how difficult it might be for two people who speak the same language, to speak the same language. But I'm learning, more and more, that for every new hobby, task or adventure, there is another English language.

While I'm looking at a very similar computer screen as my mother, she is trying to describe what she sees. I'm trying to understand. I'm giving commands in a language she is not entirely familiar with, and she's trying to understand. Throw in a password typed incorrectly, or an error in the email account and we're both looking for a bottle.

The same applies to my new bread baking hobby. Got an email from a fellow bread enthusiast from that website I've previously mentioned, The Fresh Loaf. I had asked a question about what "proofing" means exactly. I know it has something to do with the bread rising, but I wasn't sure if it meant the first rise, the second rise, or another rise I didn't know about.

And excerpt from that email:

"Then there is autolyse, sponge, soaker, poolish, biga, retard/retarded/cold

retard, bench rest, preferment, levain/sourdough, chef/motherdough, old

dough/altus."

I'm not sure, but I think she's coming on to me.

But you see what I mean? I know that a sponge soaks up water and you wash the floor with it. I know a soaker is something I used to get on the way to school when I stepped in the creek. I'm sure that's not what my new friend is talking about. I have a new language to learn. No idea what poolish means, yet. 

But one step at a time. For now, I'm celebrating my major computer victory. I can now explain myself while showing my mom exactly what I'm talking about. And I can see exactly what she's looking at. This is awesome!

I just wish that there was a similar remote bread-baking system, where one of my more knowledgeable new friends could look over my shoulder, knead the bread a little more if necessary, toss in a little extra flour when needed and make sure my poolish has the appropriate sponge soaker for the bench rest. If not, I guess I'll just make it biga.

So much to learn.

Anyhoo, it's early in the a.m. and I've had another relatively sleepless night, thanks to something that has invaded Sonwun's ear. Spent three hours at the hospital last night and woke up every four hours since for medication. Maybe I'll tell you all about that one tomorrow.

As for today, Neomom's headed for Thompson and I don't see Sonwun heading for school. Gonna be a long one.

Have a great Tuesday. And remember, the yeasts are most active during the bulk rise. Keep your mouse on the pad.

My World is Shrinking

It's happening. I didn't want it to happen, but it is. I am becoming one of those people who lives his life through the little box on the desk.

Yes, it seems my friends, my social calendar, my contact with human beings outside of the home is all happening on the computer. I hate to admit it, but I start each day (usually at 5 a.m., before the bosses wake up) with a cup of coffee and a visit to my favourite internet communities, to find out who's done what, who has responded to my posts and how many people have read the blog.

I've been thinking a lot about this in the last week or so, while the wife's been away. Is it a bad thing? Is it just the best option for me right now?

I'm a stay-at-home dad, my closest family member is more than 1,000 miles away, I've just moved to a new town, I haven't had the time or opportunity to make friends, and I have two young charges that limit my social activity in a big way. I'm not complaining, understand, I'm just stating the obvious.

So why turn to the computer? Because there aren't too many folks like me within driving distance.

Stay-at-home dads are still a rare breed (but growing) and there are not as many SAHD groups as there are "mommy and me" groups. Yeah, I can and have attended those meetings. They're good to a point, but I'm not a mommy. I can't contribute to the discussions on birth and breast feeding, cosmetics and clothes. And although I can't speak to it personally, a number of the SAHDs I've spoken with have even been turned away at the door by some of the mommy's groups.

And so, to find folks like myself, I turn to the box on the desk. And here I found Dadstayshome.com. You'll see the link to the right of this text in the "My Blog List" section.

It is an active site run by, run for and used by stay-at-home dads. The guys, SAHD's from all over North America, feel like friends. At this site, I find guys who know what it's like to wait for mommy to get home from work, just so they can get a few things done. Guys who have advice for cleaning hardwood floors. Guys who have found a trick or two for feeding a fussy toddler and guys who just want to shoot the shit about sports, politics, plumbing, photography, brewing techniques, cars, news and the funny stuff kids do. These are guys, like me, who no longer know what it's like to eat, shower, shave or poop without an audience.

Yeah, we also swap recipes and bitch about our wives. I've even been virtual golfing (http://www.wgt.com/) with a threesome from the site, after the kids have gone to bed. More living in the box, but hey, I won.

If you happen to be a SAHD reading this, check it out. It might just keep you sane.

I also find myself turning to the box to maintain my writing skills. This is personal and important to me. I want to continue to amuse and piss off the world in my own special way. To that end, I try to write a daily blog and I have joined a dadblog web site. I can read other blogs, critique them and have my own critiqued. Again, contact with and feedback from a segment of society that is not readily available in Thompson.

As for news, I get it from a number of internet sources. Another throwback to the old days I suppose. Must know what's going on in the world and I just don't have the opportunity to buy a newspaper every day.

And yes, I have a Facebook account, but I don't spend a lot of time there. I check it every now and again to see pictures of old friends, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. And I send virtual drinks. Why? Not sure.

Anyway, that's what's on my mind today. And writing about it helps me sort it all out. For those of you seeking humour today, I would suggest clicking here. This was a blog entry I discovered at the dadblog site. If you are easily offended by colourful language, don't go. But it's really funny, and appropriate for work. So enjoy. See you tomorrow.

Computer Genius

Another day in paradise, another day living the dream . . .

Woke up this morning and puked. Not a great start to the day.

Not sure why it happened. I'm feeling a little off this morning and hope it's not the flu or something like that. We'll have to wait and see I guess. Nevertheless, the kids have been fed and the kitchen's clean. So whatever else happens until noon, I'm good.

Sonwun and Sontoo have been playing upstairs since breakfast. We didn't have an "upstairs" until we moved here. So, while I'm getting the kitchen in order, I can hear their little feet pounding around on the hardwood. I'm learning which "thump, thump, thump" means they're running and which one means they've both fallen off the bed while doing aerobics. The latter is usually followed by screaming.

In any case, in the course of kitchen cleaning this morning, I've had to make two trips upstairs; one for each of the progeny. Sonwun (who is now doing time in his room for teasing the dog) made a pretty good thump when he fell off the bed, but has quickly recovered. Sontoo, offering a slightly lesser thump, is sporting a bright red mark on his cheek - not sure what he hit. But he seems to be okay now.

But at least they're not on the computer. Sontoo has taken to hopping on my computer chair the second I'm out of site, and experience with Sonwun has taught me this is not a good thing.

I'm not sure if they are computer geniuses or if they are just so good at causing trouble, it translates naturally to electronics. When Sonwun was about two, he had the same habit Sontoo is developing now. And somehow, about a year and a half ago, he managed to get to the computer, bring up the home folder and rename it. This tends to cause major problems, as every program looking for the home folder can no longer find it. That was a $75 call to Apple tech support.

Sontoo, thus far in his computer experience, has managed to launch a video of himself learning to walk and, this morning, I believe he attempted to rename the home folder. Fortunately, he's not as adept as his elder brother. Silly child used a "." in the new name. Every computer programmer knows you can't do that, so when I caught up to him, the computer was reminding him of this and asking for a different name. I scooped him up before he had the chance to wreak that havoc once again.

Anyway, much to do again today. I am just waiting for Sontoo to poop, so that we can change that diaper and head out to do some shopping and return a video. So much easier to wait for that bit of paradise, than to make the change in the van.