The Lost Realm » General

No longer

Lionfire — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 17:00:47 +0000

So, there’s this problem with having a job and a family and some hobbies and only a single corporal body locked within a linear, bounded time-stream: everyone ends up complaining that I’m not updating my blog. Sure, there’s twitter and all the other places I’m throwing things and pressing “Like” buttons, but people want words or photos or something more personal or whatever. There hasn’t been very much of that.

When I started this blog, I was still at university and had no children. On Sunday I was back on campus with my step-daughter and it reminded me how much has changed and how far I’ve come. Pretentious? Sure; but still true.

However what I took from the day wasn’t how far I’ve come so much as how much I’ve lost along the way. I no longer make games. I no longer draw. I no longer write. I no longer create.

None of this is anyone’s fault but my own, of course, and it hasn’t gone completely unnoticed. Throughout my life I have always created. The form of the creation has changed, but it has always been there: painting, drawing, 3D rendering, computer games, websites, software, photography.

In recent years, however, work seems to have displaced this creativity without really replacing it. Some might see my job as creative, but it isn’t the same thing. True creativity comes from within, and I’m sure it’s still in there somewhere.

It’s time to send a search party.

Time flies

Lionfire — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:55:38 +0000

Today marks not only nine months of Oliver breathing air, but also four years since Carolyn and I first met face to face. Time passes us all by, and sometimes we forget to just stop and note all the moments and joy that life brings us.

Life has been so very good to me over these last few years. Living in a world with Carolyn is amazing. I never quite know what’s going to happen next (she is perhaps a little crazy), but I never feel like we’re out of control. We have a great little family in our home. We have all that we could require. Life is about as perfect as it could be.

Today marks the passing of a short time in what I hope to be a long and happy life with Carolyn and our awesome little family. Carolyn, I’m so glad that fate brought us together; I love you more than words can express.

We’re coming home

Lionfire — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:16:09 +0000

The Penguin’s name is…

Lionfire — Sun, 10 May 2009 14:47:00 +0000

After much thought and discussion, The Penguin’s name is Oliver Harley Blackwell.

He continues to do well, and has no problems demanding food and cuddles. When those little eyes stare into yours, it is impossible to refuse. I may, however, have to be restrained from just eating those gorgeous cheeks.

It’s a boy!

Lionfire — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:22:43 +0000

At 7:29 yesterday morning, our absolutely adorable baby boy was born! After a long labour, the doctors decided it was too risky to continue and he was born by caesarian section. Carolyn and baby are both doing well, though we’re asking that no one visits for now while Carolyn recovers.

He weighed 3.775kg, and is a lovely 51.5cm long. He has the most adorable eyes, and tiny but long fingers and toes. Elysha and Romilly are very proud big sisters.

I know this is a day late, but after two days with basically no sleep and a total of two meals, I needed to crash. I have been informed that it may be the last good sleep I get for a long time, but I don’t care. I have a beautiful baby boy, and Carolyn is doing OK. All is well with the world.

It’s eating half of my chocolate

Lionfire — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:19:44 +0000

And now we’re overdue. I’ve had several chats with The Penguin about how it’s time to come out now, but so far this hasn’t resulted in much. I’ll add stubborn to the list of displayed traits.

Of course, with the colder weather coming, it may just want to stay in there and keep warm.

We’re completely prepared for the big day; we just don’t know when it will be. Until then, we’ll just end each day with the thought of being one day closer to whenever The Penguin is going to arrive.

It’s going to stay in there forever

Lionfire — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:46:27 +0000

While there are a few minutes of April to go, it appears that The Penguin is going to be a May baby after all. The “official” due date is May 6th, but other estimates have been May 2nd, 5th, and 8th. Perhaps the doctors have a sweepstakes going?

If nothing else, it means that Elysha will get to keep April as her month. Carolyn has indicated that Romilly’s claim on September is quite safe.

I’ll call you if I explode or something

Lionfire — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:35:22 +0000

I’m now on leave, as we await The Penguin. I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to do to make the waiting process less excruciating, but today I enjoyed a lovely, long sleep in. I imagine it might be one of the last ones I get for some time.

The Penguin seems, so far, to be very laid back and not in any hurry to arrive. One can only guess that this means it has a fair share of Carolyn’s genes. This can only be a good thing.

This is a working man’s bra

Lionfire — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:01:49 +0000

Oh my goodness, it’s only two weeks until The Penguin’s “official” due date. This is it, people: the end zone.

Everything is prepared. Everything is ready. Carolyn has has enough of being pregnant.

Whenever you’re ready, Penguin. Whenever you’re ready.

Blue is yellow

Lionfire — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 12:24:24 +0000

Hey, you. Yeah, you. The one reading over there. You’re still here? Let me dust off a chair so you can sit down.

Have you noticed that I haven’t been around much recently? Of course you have; you’re smart. Well I can’t really apologise and tell you how busy I’ve been, because I haven’t been all that busy. I took a nice holiday over Christmas, but didn’t go anywhere. I painted Romilly’s new bedroom (pink!), finishing at 4am on Christmas Eve. I then spent the next week recovering and promising myself never to leave anything to the last minute ever again. Other than that, I have found myself enjoying family time, playing computer games, and slowly organising things for the arrival of The Penguin. For example, this afternoon was spent convincing Carolyn that a $4000 pram is not a viable option, even if you can get it on special for $200 less.

I’m actually only writing all of this as Carolyn insisted that I thank my ex-wife for pointing out that the PenguinCount® on the website here was stuck at 101 days. Carolyn really didn’t like the idea of being perpetually pregnant. The idea of a baby making its way out through your nether regions is apparently bad enough, let alone giving it additional time to grow.

Carolyn has, in fact, decided that The Penguin is going to emerge no larger than a peanut. Not liking the idea of a peanut-sized baby, it was decided that said peanut would immediately turn into a proper baby after making its easy exit. Now I can only imagine the birthing process as passing a small Poké Ball, with the midwife then screaming something along the lines of “Penguimon, I choose you!”

It is this incredibly realistic view of birth that is probably going to backfire on us at some point in the future, most probably during “news time” at school.