From a profile I read in USA Today this morning, it looks like Jennie Finch, pitcher for the U.S. Olympic softball team, will be a media darling this summer in Athens. Over 100,000 visitors to ESPN's web site voted Jennie the "Hottest Sports Personality," ahead of Anna Kournikova. Everyone interviewed in the article agrees that this talented, 6-foot-1 blonde will bring some much-needed attention to women's baseball. I'll be paying some serious attention myself.

- mike lee - washington, dc

Hex, the photos in your post, play doh devil autopsy, made my day!


- mike lee -

Sunday sun casts shadows on a just-emptied cereal bowl.


- mike lee -

I decided to hop on the Amtrak Acela this morning, which is a non-stop ride to DC. I don't do this too often, but it occurs to me that this effectively bought me an extra 30 minutes time with my wife and daughter--well worth the extra few dollars.

- mike lee - on the northeast corridor heading south

Oh how cute! Our little baby girl on her first visit to The Olive Garden Italian Restaurant. Minutes later, baby girl had a complete meltdown and blasted bloodcurdling cries for 20 minutes while I paced the lobby with her in my arms. Mom gobbled down the rest of her plate and paid the bill. 20 minutes more, we were home where, on the changing table, baby girl let out her first giggle. These parents are just pawns in this Little Player's game.

- mike lee - baltimore

I'm finally at home during daylight hours to see the solar powered RainbowMaker catching the sunlight in our baby's room. Direct sunlight coming through a southern-facing window hits a small solar cell which creates electricity to turn a motor. A train of small plastic gears steps down the speed to a shaft that turns a Swarovski crystal. The crystal refracts more of the sunlight to fill the room with moving fragments of rainbows. The baby is fascinated by the light show and I hear cats love it too.

- mike lee - baltimore

At happy hour at the District Chop House, I only managed one photo of my boss before I had a big beer and forgot about my camera. Good times, and now I'm heading home on the train.

- mike lee - washington, dc

Our baby Cianna went to her second routine check-up today. The pediatrician is just two blocks from our house, and since I'm working at home due to the icy weather, I got to tag along. The middle photos are before and after she got her three vaccinations in the legs. She calmed down from screaming bloody murder within five minutes, and I like to think that was because her daddy was there to hold her.

At two months, Cianna is completely healthy weighing in at 11 lbs. 11 oz. (from 8 lbs. 9.4 oz. at birth) and measuring 23 1/2" (from 21") cap to heel. She'll continue hulking out and the next doc visit is in two months. We're blessed.

- mike lee - baltimore

Odd sight boarding the train this morning: the Amtrak cafe car opened to reveal a snow-coated interior! The conductor was shoveling a 4-inch pile of snow out. Apparently the seal between the cars had enough of a gap that blowing snow collected inside.

- mike lee -