Posts from — July 2006
“Personally, I am not Jewish.” - Adventures in Baby Making Vol. 1
Personally, I am not Jewish. Dawn, although hella-jewy, isn’t very religious. Still there is an odd sense of ease that comes from being surrounded by the chosen people. This weekend when we went to the hospital (more on that below) we got a real treat. Those of you outside of New York have probably never seen a Sabbath Elevator. Well, let me tell you, it’s awesome! Basically it is a special elevator that, on weekends and Jewish holidays, stops on every floor. This allows more conservative jews (I’ll call them the über-chosen) to ride the elevator without having to touch any buttons, and thereby keep there sabbath button free. This may sound like cheating, but I say “G-d bless ‘um”.
This past weekend Dawn and I visited the Birth Center at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital. The Birth Center has all the advantages of a free standing birthing center, but with the added bonus of having a hospital, not only nearby, but literally surrounding you. It’s kind of like having a Starbucks in a Barnes and Noble, but not like that at all.
I will admit that I went in with a little bit of apprehension. When it comes to Baby Making, Dawn and I can be pretty picky. I think we where both concerned that the centers relationship with a hospital would make parts of our touchy-feally birth plan next to impossible. As it turns out, this couldn’t have been further from the case. If anything, the people at the birth center seamed more anti-hospital then we where! Kind of like having a Starbucks in Cuba… Wait, what?
About The Author - My name is Stirling McLaughlin. I am married. I am an Art Director, Designer and Illustrator. I work at Atmosphere BBDO. I have lots of ideas. I have a baby girl named Nika Bean. I live in New York City. When I was in college, they put me on TV because I wore a mask and yelled at people. I have a reality show that I wil be starting… any day now. - See My PortfolioJuly 31, 2006 No Comments
This is how we do it.
Last night was my 27th birthday. It is funny to think that in some cultures, I would now be considered a man. Crazy right?
I spent much of the night on a rooftop at 160th and Fort Washington practicing yoga with a bunch of my fellow yoga nomads. We all practice yoga together so that if a situation ever arises that we need to actually do yoga, we will have had plenty of practice.
We call ourselves “Yoga Nomads” because, due to the afore mentioned bloody coop, we no longer have a studio to practice at. Instead, we have taken to practicing on the rooftop of a nearby community center. This way, we get to experience yoga as Pantanjali did so many thousands of years ago; under the stars, at 160th and Fort Washington, watching planes taxi to JFK.
The picture above was taken last night while our instructor tried to wake me up from my nap. I must have been snoring. That is the kind of hardcore yogi I am. I nap in half!
July 25, 2006 No Comments
Central Park Has Junk In It
In the interest of entertaining you, my reader, I went to Central Park to find something interesting to write about. It was there that I came to a startling revelation. Central Park has junk in it!
Today Dawn and I visited the Central Park Zoo. Yes, you heard me right. Central Park has a Zoo… In it! Even more amazing is that there are animals in the Zoo… The Zoo that is in Central Park!
At The Zoo we saw a huge Polar Bear. Just one look at him and you could tell he was so happy just to have such a sweet pad on the East-side. Sure, it was 90 degrees outside, but he had a pool and everything! Who has a pool on the UES? Lucky bastard.
We also saw an amazing group of arctic monkeys. They are so human-like its freaky! Of course I’ve never seen a human being falate themselves in front of a bunch of children. Well, at least I’ve never seen a human being falate themselves in front of a group of children that wasn’t on the A train.
Perhaps the most amazing sight of the day came not in The Zoo, but on the walk to The Zoo. As we crossed the park from Columbus Circle we saw a couple of tourists riding in the back of a rickshaw. The driver cheerfully explained that he had moved to New York because “He worked in the Film Industry” and he “did lighting and cinematography.” It was inspiring to hear someone so young was able to work in such a competitive industry. He obviously only drives a rickshaw for fun… when its raining… and he needs to eat a meal.
July 23, 2006 2 Comments
The (presumably) historic lighthouse in Montauk Point Long Island
This past weekend, Dawn and I had the pleasure of visiting the (presumably) historic lighthouse in Montauk Point Long Island. This was all made possible by the graciousness of our dear friends Claire and Carl (AKA C+C Music Factory) and Carl’s dog Rosie (AKA
Freedom Williams). We all rented a car ( a beautiful little french car called a “Pontiac Grand Prix”) and headed out for a lovely day of decadence in God’s accountant’s playground.
It was definitely the finest one day vacation I have ever had. The only blip was Freedom Williams drinking to much salt water and having explosive diarrhea all over a private beach near Maidstone Golf Club. That Freedom Williams…
You will note in this photo a very small person sitting to my left. That is my wife Dawn, shown actual size. Even at 5+ months pregnant, she is still small enough to fit in a tin of Altoids. Simply amazing.
July 20, 2006 No Comments
Ultrasound 06/27/06
This is a photo taken at 20 weeks of my very first and most favorite daughter. She is due on November 9th. Yes, we have a name, and no, I can’t tell you what it is. You will have to check back in early November for an update.
July 16, 2006 1 Comment