Kaylee Violet Gubb

We had a little baby girl this morning. She is beautiful, a little bit red and squishy, but beautiful all the same. For the ladies she weighs 4310g, that's 9 pound 8, a big little baby. She is feeding well and Mum is recovering.

Big thanks to both Nanas who helped out by taking care of Jade and Dad. Did have to kick them out of the hospital to let the patients sleep, but they were great when everyone was awake.

Jade is still unsure what to make of the new baby. At first she didn't want to get to close, but by bed time tonight Jade was giving Kaylee kisses, so cute to watch. Doesn't mind sharing Mum to much, huge relief to the parents.
The staff at the Taranaki Base Hospital were really good. We knew what was happening, and when. Thanks also to everyone who has offered us congratulations on facebook. I'll put new photos up as they come, the ones already up can be found here.

Tales for Canterbury

I'll admit it, I've never read a short story outside of high school English class. And you can forget about poetry, the last poem I looked at was an acrostic at primary school, 'mother' down the left side of the page in a card. My mum told me it was brilliant, I still believe her. No, I've stayed strictly puritanical in the world of novels. Beginning to regret that now.
From Saturn's moons to Aladdin's ring to zombie apocalypse, and that's just in the first thirty pages, Tales for Canterbury has impressed me. Alternatly inspiring or distirbing, moving or sad, there are even a few that I didn't get at all, meaning there is something for every taste.

Sure, you can't sink your teeth into a completely new world in a short story. Its strange to read science fiction that doesn't care about physics. But I would highly reccomend Tales for Canterbury.

And now I'm off to try my hand at a short story.

An accountant moment

One of my bosses at work loves to explain things using funny little jokes. I'm not sure how much it improves understanding, but it got me thinking. We were having an account moment.

Question: What is one and one?

Artist: Someting beautiful
Mathematician: Two
Engineer: Three, I always over design by a factor of fifty percent
Accountant: What would you like it to be?

And from some of my own roles

Student: Will this be on the exam?
Inner editor: What are one and one?
Writer: How did the ones get together? What would happen if they were separated? What if one was a two instead? Just look at the possbilities.
Plant manager: What does your operating procedure say?

And my wife

Graphic designer: Isn't it more about the space behind the ones?
Impressionist: Light, dappling in the shadows
Surrealist: A representation of inner dreams
Expectant mother: Too many days

(Okay, so I don't understand the art references, but that's beside the point.)

So what is one and one for you? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.