It's a rainy morning in Downtown Boston and I'm listening to Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" album while I work. Go ahead... laugh at the bald ex-metalhead. For me, Maiden is kind of like comfort food. It reminds me vaguely of my teen years in Milwaukee and old friends. Every once in a while, it's nice to embrace nostalgia.

Feeling vaguely unsettled today... mostly because of the date, I think. Not much to be done about that. It will pass, as it does every year, most likely without incident.

Alex is getting bigger, smarter, and funnier everyday. Also stronger and faster. I'm dreading the bitter winter months when it won't be as easy to take him outside to blow off steam. Sure, it's fun to play in the snow, but lately our winters haven't been that snowy. Mostly just cold, which really isn't that much fun. I'm sure we'll figure something out. Lots of trips to the museum probably.

In the picture below, Alex enjoys a hammock on his first camping trip in Maine! The dirty face is from rolling around in pine needles....