Chapter 83.2: Re-Emerging or Just Shifting?

It has been too long since I posted anything other than a new poll question here. Indeed, it used to be unusual for me to go two weeks between published posts much less the two months it has been.

Those who know me know why that's happened, and while I have shifted the dexterity in my hands to diapering the girls, my fingers and my mind remain quite able to type and think. Ok, the fingers still work, the brain's not always there without enough caffeine to fuel it. This is my coffee cup, after all.

As July ebbs in the rain-drenched streets of New York and New Jersey, I pledge to post more often in August — both here and at The Elephant's Bookshelf, where I've posted a tad more regularly. I know these posts won't come frequently, but they will occur. But I've got a first novel to re-re-revise and a new novel to continue writing. After all, these characters in my soul don't stop bugging me when I'm not writing about them.

Chapter 82.4: Matt Recommends - Diaper Genie

Everyone knows the three basic functions of an infant: eating, sleeping, and pooping. Well, as far as I can tell, you can't get through that last function without a hygenic place to send the diapers. Enter Diaper Genie.

The idea behind Diaper Genie is simple: store diapers without letting the stink leak out into the air. With newborns, it's hard to say how much the scented Diaper Genie bag covers the odor, but I've not noticed a stink yet, so I take that as a positive. Working with Diaper Genie is easy too, though I'll admit it wasn't so obvious to set up when I first put it together. Mind you I was looking at the real possibility of tossing the dirty items in a supermarket baggie otherwise.

The disposal is a silo that stores a couple dozen diapers at a time, which are twisted to section off each diaper, leading to a string of pearls when it's time to toss them out.

Simple, efficient, and oh my dear, so necessary. Diaper Genie should be in the homes of every new parent.

Chapter 81.7: Thanks, Happy New Year, and Good Luck!

I was very pleasantly surprised to see the recent results of my latest poll, which asked whether you had made a New Year's resolution. I got six responses in a week, which for this little blog is pretty much record-setting territory.

Not only that, but no one responded that setting resolutions is a waste of time. I used to think they were. I used to say "I resolved not to make any resolutions," but that joke got old. So did I, and I realized that setting resolutions is essentially goal setting, and I have many goals.

I won't go into all of them, but my goals for 2009 include getting a literary agent, finishing my second novel (a tough challenge, with newborns), and doing my diaper duty. (Pardon the play on words.)

Anyone else care to share their resolutions for 2009? You don't even have to be among those who responded to the poll.