2008 is best summed up with:

IN January of 2008 my son TJ started having seizures. The first one was awful as we didn't know what was wrong. He had a seizure with my wife in the basement, she carried him up to me and he wasn't breathing, lips turning blue, shaking with his whole body going rigid. After going home from the hospital, he had another seizure the next morning and then two more that day. He's fine now. They think it was a virus that passed the blood brain barrier. It happens to little kids and it happened to three other kids that week. Now, TJ is happy healthy and a wonderfully inquisitive 3 year old.
In February of 2008 my daughter Julia was born. It was an easier birth for my wife than my son's birth was. She was born perfectly healthy. Her birth is the top 3 events of my life. Marriage to Anne, birth of TJ, birth of Julia... At 10 months she is the perfect baby. She has been sleeping through the night since 6 weeks old. She is easy to read and she's demonstrated 3 different sign language gestures so far. (Doggy, Milk, Kitty). We teach our kids ASL because it makes raising them so much easier before they can talk.
In March I voted for Obama in the RI primaries. The local news interviewed me about who I was voting for while I held my son. TJ told the reporter that he was going to vote for Elmo but quickly changed his mind and said he was going to vote for Daddy. Obama lost RI in a landslide to Hillary. I still see Hillary bumper stickers on cars around the city. I gave my notice at Textron after being there 10 years. Julia was running a high fever and had to be admitted to the hospital for a few days for observation. All turned out well.
In April I started my new job as a software engineer in Boston. I still work there and really enjoy it.
In May, Utah Phillips died. I worked at the new job commuting to Boston by train.
In June I found four four leaf clovers. I Kayaked with TJ in my lap on the lake. Held baby Julia a lot. Went to the butterfly exhibit at the zoo near our house. Had my credit card information stolen. The thieves sent steak to my house. I went to a Red Sox game.
In July I feel asleep on the train going home from work and missed my stop. People started stealing the Obama signs I put in my yard. I refused to relent and kept buying and displaying new ones. I went to a Red Sox game.
In August we convinced TJ that the ice cream truck bell, was the going to take a nap bell. It worked. He turned three years old this month. I started to tell him stories in the dark while we rocked in the rocking chair in his room. He would alternatively ask for Jack and the Bean Stalk, Three Little Pigs, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, 'Nursery Rhymes', or just Lullaby's. Sometimes I'd tell him Good Night Moon from memory as well.
In September I got really hooked on the election. Had our 4 year wedding anniversary.
In October I continued my election obsession. GotPoetry Live started back up on Thayer in Providence, RI. I went to a hookah bar. We moved TJ to a real bed and out of his crib. Actually his crib converted to a full size bed.
In November Obama won the presidency. Had my first real time off in a while over Thanksgiving.
In December I turned 37. I worked a lot and enjoyed Christmas. Wrote this recap.

GotPoetry Features as of Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:29:54 GMT
Poetry Is Doomed #20: 10 Great Gifts for Poets (and one you can skip)
The WeatherMan
Zero Point Zero: Report From IWPS, 2008
Poetry is Doomed #19: Reading for the President is kind of a game-changer
World Poetry Map
IN January of 2008 my son TJ started having seizures. The first one was awful as we didn't know what was wrong. He had a seizure with my wife in the basement, she carried him up to me and he wasn't breathing, lips turning blue, shaking with his whole body going rigid. After going home from the hospital, he had another seizure the next morning and then two more that day. He's fine now. They think it was a virus that passed the blood brain barrier. It happens to little kids and it happened to three other kids that week. Now, TJ is happy healthy and a wonderfully inquisitive 3 year old.
In February of 2008 my daughter Julia was born. It was an easier birth for my wife than my son's birth was. She was born perfectly healthy. Her birth is the top 3 events of my life. Marriage to Anne, birth of TJ, birth of Julia... At 10 months she is the perfect baby. She has been sleeping through the night since 6 weeks old. She is easy to read and she's demonstrated 3 different sign language gestures so far. (Doggy, Milk, Kitty). We teach our kids ASL because it makes raising them so much easier before they can talk.
In March I voted for Obama in the RI primaries. The local news interviewed me about who I was voting for while I held my son. TJ told the reporter that he was going to vote for Elmo but quickly changed his mind and said he was going to vote for Daddy. Obama lost RI in a landslide to Hillary. I still see Hillary bumper stickers on cars around the city. I gave my notice at Textron after being there 10 years. Julia was running a high fever and had to be admitted to the hospital for a few days for observation. All turned out well.
In April I started my new job as a software engineer in Boston. I still work there and really enjoy it.
In May, Utah Phillips died. I worked at the new job commuting to Boston by train.
In June I found four four leaf clovers. I Kayaked with TJ in my lap on the lake. Held baby Julia a lot. Went to the butterfly exhibit at the zoo near our house. Had my credit card information stolen. The thieves sent steak to my house. I went to a Red Sox game.
In July I feel asleep on the train going home from work and missed my stop. People started stealing the Obama signs I put in my yard. I refused to relent and kept buying and displaying new ones. I went to a Red Sox game.
In August we convinced TJ that the ice cream truck bell, was the going to take a nap bell. It worked. He turned three years old this month. I started to tell him stories in the dark while we rocked in the rocking chair in his room. He would alternatively ask for Jack and the Bean Stalk, Three Little Pigs, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, 'Nursery Rhymes', or just Lullaby's. Sometimes I'd tell him Good Night Moon from memory as well.
In September I got really hooked on the election. Had our 4 year wedding anniversary.
In October I continued my election obsession. GotPoetry Live started back up on Thayer in Providence, RI. I went to a hookah bar. We moved TJ to a real bed and out of his crib. Actually his crib converted to a full size bed.
In November Obama won the presidency. Had my first real time off in a while over Thanksgiving.
In December I turned 37. I worked a lot and enjoyed Christmas. Wrote this recap.

GotPoetry Features as of Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:29:54 GMT
Poetry Is Doomed #20: 10 Great Gifts for Poets (and one you can skip)
The WeatherMan
Zero Point Zero: Report From IWPS, 2008
Poetry is Doomed #19: Reading for the President is kind of a game-changer
World Poetry Map