NOTES FROM THE UNDERBELLY
First of all, I’d just like to say thanks to all the listeners who have sent congratulations, well-wishes, prayers, and even gifts to Julie, Gracie, and I over the last nine months. The last five days have been such a whirlwind, and truly a moving, life-changing experience.
As you know, I was in the studio Thursday and got the call from Julie that we needed to go to the hospital right away. Earlier that morning, just after midnight, we had gone to the hospital, only to be sent home because her contractions weren’t strong or consistent enough (try telling THAT to a pregnant woman ready to go…). At the time, they said it would most likely be “hours and hours, or even days” before she was ready to come back. So I went to work (I promise I’m not heartless). Then, just after 7:35, I got the call, and drove home as quickly as legally possible to get her to the hospital.
The nurses at Mercy Southwest were great. Mary, our main nurse, was so caring and did everything she could to make Julie comfortable. Our doctor, Dr. Finberg (who delivered Julie, by the way), also was wonderful throughout the process.
It is such a miracle to see your baby being born. Just amazing. Yep, I cried (bawled, more like it) when she first came into the world, and will remember the day forever. The first night was tough… she cried every 15 minutes from 8 PM ‘til 2 AM, but since coming home, has adjusted well, and is now sleeping pretty soundly for a newborn.
If I could go back and change anything about the whole day, it would only be one slight correction. I would ask the nurses or hospital staff at Mercy Southwest how to operate the “hide-a-bed” in the room. All night long (starting at 8 PM), I was trying to adjust in that chair, even deciding to sleep on the hard floor. At about 3:30 the next morning, a nurse pointed out that the chair actually expands to a bed. It was actually quite comfortable.
Congratulations to Lorraine Reza, winner of the Baby Pool. She guessed the day correctly, and had the closest time without going over… (She guessed 5/31 at 7:22 AM… the baby was born on 5/31 at 2:19 PM). Not that she needed it for a tiebreaker, but she also guessed the weight EXACTLY (7 lbs., 4 oz.)
Again, thanks for all the well-wishes, you are my extended family, and they are greatly appreciated.
Want to see a picture of Gracie? Scroll down to the previous post.
GAS IS GETTING EXPENSIVE!
With gas as expensive as it is, we're getting to the point where, if you're driving any car made before 1996, it's almost more profitable for a criminal to siphon your gas tank than carjack you. And here's the first step toward that.
On Sunday morning, around 10:00 A.M., in Salt Lake City, a woman was filling up her car at a Chevron station when a Jeep Cherokee pulled up next to her... the driver jumped out... and he put a gun to the woman's back.
Then, he told her to take the gas nozzle OUT of her car... and put it in HIS. She did, and filled his car up with $15 of gas. It would've been more but, fortunately for her, she's SUPER broke... and that $15 maxed out her card, so the pump shut off.
The cops are still looking for the guy. Jeep Cherokees have 22-gallon gas tanks. . . so the $15 didn't even fill up a quarter of his tank.
A NOTE FROM JAY LENO...
The serious side of the Tonight Show host... (and I think he got this spot on, by the way)
"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.
Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.
Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?
The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?
Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profitcorporations. They offer what sells and, when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!
Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative."
"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, "Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"Jay Leno
