Zachy Swingin'

After breakfast on Sunday, we went to the park to get some exercise. Here Zachy does what he does best - I hardly have to push him anymore!

Miranda At The Playground

Miranda passed on the swings in order to better enjoy the swirly lollipop that she got from the nice Egyptian toy store guy.

Miranda Has Penguin Gloves

We say "pengin" but mean "penguin" - either way, Panda's new gloves are mighty stylish, if a couple of sizes too big.

Miranda At Sunday Funday

Sunday Fun Day is a program at the Bensonhurst JCC - It is really for Zach, but since it was our first time going, the whole crew enjoyed what they had to offer.

Zach At Sunday Funday

Zachy was definitely NOT having fun at first, and cried for the first hour of "Fun" Day. Eventually he settled in and managed to salvage the afternoon. The staff at the JCC seemed to mean well, but were glaringly uninformed about issues regarding autistic kids. Don't worry Bumblebee, I don't think we'll be going on Daddy's weekends anymore.

Miranda At ToysRUs

To make up for the trauma caused by the whole JCC thing - Papa Stephen drove us to Toys R Us and treated the monkeys each to a toy. Here Miranda drives Elmo and Zoe - almost as fun as the toy!

Daddy Goes To Miranda's School

Yesterday (Tuesday) Daddy kept a promise to his little pumpkin and went to school with Miranda. She showed me all the stations and taught me everything I needed to know in order to do preschool right. I even got to watch circle time!

New Paint Job

I took the opportunity created by my lack of employment on Wall Street to complete a project that I've been meaning to get around to for quite some time now - painting the ceiling of the kids' room. It is now a beautiful sky blue with puffy white clouds and lots of glow in the dark stars, moons and planets. The project met with great approval!

Zach at Daddy's Desk

Just a quick snap of Zachy sitting on the stool that serves as Daddy's desk chair (on Wednesday evening). Zachy sat at my desk and studied a Thomas book that he got for his birthday.

Yo Gabba Mind Control

I don't let the kids watch a lot of TV, but when we watch it is usually Noggin - a kids' cable channel that is commercial free (except for endless commercials for itself). Programs include: The Wonder Pets, Dora, The Backyardigans (which I love), Wow Wow Wubsy (kind of cool and trippy), Max & Ruby (Zach thinks Max is hysterical), etc. There is one show, however, that totally creeps me out: Yo Gabba Gabba (cast shown above). The program's theme seems to be preaching submission and conformity in a very repetitive and amazingly hypnotic way. I'm seriously considering blocking it if I find myself still humming the six word songs on Tuesday. I'll keep you posted.

Change Is Not A Four Letter Word

The joke goes something like this: Werner Heisenberg is pulled over by a policeman while driving down a highway, the policeman gets out of his car, walks towards Heisenberg's window and motions with his hand for Heisenberg to wind the window down, which he does. The policeman then says "Do you know how fast you were going sir?", to which Heisenberg responds "No, but I knew exactly where I was."

Perhaps some explanation is required. In quantum physics, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle states that the values of certain pairs of conjugate variables (position and momentum, for example) cannot both be known with arbitrary precision. That is, the more precisely one variable is known, the less precisely the other is known. This is not a statement about the limitations of an observer's ability to measure particular quantities of a system, but rather about the nature of the system itself.

There are exactly no states, in quantum mechanics, which describe a particle with both a definite position and a definite momentum. The narrower the probability distribution is for the position, the wider it is in momentum and vice versa. The principle requires that when the position of an atom is measured, the measurement process will leave the momentum of the atom changed by an uncertain amount inversely proportional to the accuracy of the measurement.

The uncertainty principle is related to the observer effect, which refers to changes that the act of observation will make on the phenomenon being observed, however, the two are often confused. As Bell's Theorem suggests, the state of a system does not exist independently of its observer. In other words: to observe something is to change that which is being observed. Why do I care?

Well, the two primary themes that old Werner was really hammering away at are "change" and "observation" and both have been rattling around in my noggin for the past couple of days. It seems that I will soon be going through another period of big changes - you know - career, life and whatnot. The "handwriting" is on the walls of Wall Street - who could have known that I'd pick the worst time to become a stock broker since 1929?

Fortunately, I've grown quite accomplished at reading handwritten walls over the years, and still better at accepting (dare I say seeking?) change. Accordingly, I have been dropping those proverbial hooks in the water - this is what one does, right? The difference this time stems from the year I have spent in the investment banking world.

I've learned that it is just as easy to drop a really big hook in the sea of opportunity as it is to drop the little "Craigslist" kind. Hanging out with and observing people who buy entire coal mines for their personal portfolios, or who put together $100 million syndicates for some venture or other (taking a measly 10% as their fee) changes one's perspective as to just how vast the array of possibilities is. The absurd becomes commonplace.

Upon reflection, perhaps Heisenberg and Bell had it backwards. Maybe it is the observer not the system that is changed by the process of observation - perhaps both? It seems clear that as a result of this experience my thinking has changed (yet again), as have the set of opportunities I choose to embrace.

Miranda Feeling Groovy

Zachy Playing With His ThomasTtrains

Sunny day, kicking the clouds away...

The view looking North down Ridge Blvd. on this fine autum day. I'm playing a little hookey today;-)

Getting My Zen On

So how much experiential wisdom does it take to reach enlightenment anyway? Is there some kind of wisdom-o-meter that I can buy - say, on ebay? I'm just asking... I mean... because... you know... like... I got to be getting close... right? Right?!? Remember folks, in the attainment of awakening it's experiential realization that counts, not style - and each day I am confronted with endless and wildly varied experiences - and, through them, I try not to seek reality, just an end to opinions.
Well, no matter really - I got 8 hours of sleep (in a row!!!) last night, was able to get some meditation time in (to a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders) and I feel completely renewed - well, almost. I often wonder how I'd feel if circumstances permitted me to do all the other little things I know I should be doing for myself, on a daily basis; because I am certain that the quieter I become, the more I will hear.
Even marooned as I am here in New York, at any given moment I can open my eyes and just exist... if I put in the leg work. I must be ever mindful that if I cannot find the truth right where I am, where else can I expect to find it? The end of all my exploring will be to arrive where I started and know the place for the first time.
Peaceandlove.

Ask Dr. Math

Got a chance to roll up my sleeves and do a little math this evening with Susie and Samantha (Childers, for those of you outside the family). We solved the problem - let's see if you can:
How many bearers must an explorer bring with him if they have to cross a barren wasteland (a 6 day journey) and each of them can only carry 4 days worth of food and water (nobody is allowed to die on the way & you must explain how this can be done)?

The Psych Ward @ 1:15am

Note: photo timed and composed to insure patient confidentiality.

... then some fun!

And McDonalds has free wifi too.

First a snack...

Miranda's New Jewelry Box

Panda did a really nice job decorating her new jewelry box that she
got for her birthday - way sparkly!

Marathon Day 2008

Yep, it's marathon day again - first stop off the bridge is Bay Ridge.
We just got back from taking a look.

All Dressed Up And...

We tried going to the big Halloween / anniversary party... but as soon
as the lights went down and the music came on Zach barfed and we
headed home. Turns out that Miranda has a 102.3 temp too:(. Sitting up
on barf-patrol now - oh the joys of parenthood!

PandaTime.

Don't Try This At Home!!!

Look, it's my face!

Saturday At The Park

Pizza for Lunch

The crew grabbing a quick bite in between the Sensory Gym and speech
at Simply Speaking.

Miranda playing with Polly Pocket mermaids.

Zach chilling at Daddy's house

Testing 123