Christmas with Lindita

We had the most relaxing Christmas ever. Lindita was teething, and all morning she sat on my lap and let Daddy and me play her new game, Wii Music.

First thing in the morning, Lindita climbed down and ran for Evelyn's room. She was disappointed that Evelyn's bed was empty. She did the same thing this morning. Seven more days, Deet-deet, until your sister is home.

Big Christmas

On Saturday we opened presents with my family and Jorge and Eva.

Lindita's favorite gift: Eva bought her a soft Diego that's about her height. "Day-go!" she cries, and hugs him, and carries him around. He's her new boyfriend.

Evelyn's favorite gifts: Rachel bought her a Rescue Pack. Mom's friend Pat bought her one of those toys where you press your face into the blunt-tipped nails to make a 3-D impression. Nana and Pa-pa bought her princess dresses.

Eric's favorite gift: that would be the cheat card for Nintendo DS, which allows him to modify his Pokemon.

Jorge's favorite gift: Evelyn gave him a Mario mushroom, so that he can get even bigger.

Lindita's favorite gift of Evelyn's: a Pokemon dice game from Eva and Jorge. Lindita spent at least half an hour putting the dice in the cup and dumping or shaking them out.

Both girls' favorite gift of Nana's: a rocket ship with astronauts. Evelyn picked this out.

Lindita's First Sentence

"Play Diego"

Yes, her first sentence is about a video game based on a cartoon character.

The parking spot color obsession

Nana's update:

I don't like grandmas anymore cried Evelyn when she found out I parked on a red parking square. Boo-hoo. I said but Evie, they all looked white to me today.

Her school has alternating colors in the parking lot: one spot red, one spot white. Lately Evelyn insists on a white parking spot for drop-off and pickup. Woe unto Nana, who chose the wrong color today in the snow.

Mohawk

 

My day at work

We had some fun at work today.
The stores called the helpdesk because sales weren't saving. Why aren't sales saving? They're taking forever! Like twenty minutes -- how is that even possible?
By increasing log levels, we identified that sales were hanging inserting into a particular table. They hang getting the next available ID, all because one particular sale has a lock on that. What is that particular sale waiting for? Ah-ha, someone has a discount coupon locked in an unrelated process, and that sale wants to use the coupon. Let's call them! They need to close that window.
I try to call the offending store from my work phone. It doesn't work. I try from my cell phone. It doesn't work. Somebody in Kansas City is holding up sales at all stores nationwide, and we can't call them!

In the end, I called the district manager, who called the store manager, who called the manager on duty that day, who called me back. The lock was released, sales started flowing again, and now he knows that their phone is broken. ("That's why no one has called us all day!")

Stuff like this is my favorite part of working IT.

post-Thanksgiving updates

The family had a lovely Thanksgiving. Mama Cat, Aunt Bunny, Uncle Seth, Cousin Liz, and Uncle Gene came to visit. Our two favorite Spaniards joined us for dinner. Later, the girls and I followed Mama Cat to Hannibal. (except our minivan arrived a few seconds before hers did - that's important if you're Evelyn.)

Evelyn's favorite: Going Bonkers, with all of us and Uncle Josh. Lindita enjoyed that too, despite being napless.

Lindita's favorite: Uncle Seth.