http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqpxhCQjwMU

Everything is a little harder to do with a baby, especially playing the piano. On the other hand, it is fun to see him enjoy himself.

Also, Chapter 11 of Tesla 2010 starts off with a bang!

This year, the thing I am most thankful for is, of course, my baby. But there were also many other people involved in bringing our baby into this world. And I am thankful for the many dedicated doctors and nurses in Mumbai that were involved. But most of all, I am thankful for the woman who carried and nourished our baby for 36 weeks and 2 days.

Also, in Chapter 10 of Tesla 2010, someone loses a foot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a4MR8oI_B8

A few of my co-workers put together this amazing video. It was made for gay teens who get teased, bullied, and threatened simply for being who they are. I can’t imagine what that’s like. But I do know what it’s like to lose hope, to feel like you can’t go on, to wonder if there is any point in struggling further. And yes, there is a point. It gets better.

In lighter news, Chapter 9 of Tesla 2010 features a plan. Will it all come together or all go awry?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw-36DyXVM8

One of my friends recently found this decade old video of us in this promotional video for Final Fantasy the Spirits Within and Alias Wavefront’s Maya! I show up around the 1:14 mark. And yup, I had red hair at the time.

Also, in Chapter 8 of Tesla 2010, Priya comes up with a plan…

I like avocado a lot. But my baby? He goes crazy for the stuff. And I can understand him getting a little spread on his cheeks and nose, but his eyebrows?! Maybe he doesn’t like eating it so much as he likes making a mess. On the other hand, he does have really soft skin. Maybe the avocado rub is his secret.

Speaking of secrets, Chapter 7 of Tesla 2010 ends with a secret revealed about Nikola Tesla.

A few weeks ago, I signed up for a night class to learn this new tool we’re using at work, which would have been totally fine. But I forgot that I had earlier agreed to teach a night class as well and it just so happens that they’re both during the same four weeks, starting this week.

Fortunately, they’re on different days of the week but … ach, work is also starting to get busy. This is yet another example of my past self screwing my present self with commitments that seemed like a good idea at the time. My only consolation is that I’m about to screw my future self with an even bigger — wait, I don’t think that works out…

Anyways, Chapter 6 of Tesla 2010 is coincidentally about putting yourself into a tricky situation.

Do you know what second person perspective is? Read Chapter 5 of Telsa 2010 to find out.

A friend at work recently had her second baby and I was asking her how she managed with two kids at once when I was struggling with just the one. She chuckled and said that it’s more that you don’t realize how easy you had it when you only have one kid.

I thought about it and yeah, I guess it is pretty easy. I mean, sure, we’re getting less sleep than usual and yes, I feel like I’m constantly washing dishes or changing diapers. On the other hand, Tracy and I can pass the baby back and forth between us and get other stuff done. So I’m trying to take a moment to appreciate that we have it pretty good. Especially compared to my other co-worker who just recently had triplets.

Also, here’s Chapter 4 of the theoretical novel that I don’t have enough time to actually write in a month, but do have enough time to write about writing.

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be involved in a Make a Wish Foundation event. It’s a wonderful organization dedicated to fulfilling the wishes of children with serious medical conditions. The kids get a lot out of having their dreams come true but it was also incredibly rewarding for me to be a part of bringing so much joy to one very special young person and her incredible family. Check out the organization, they do great work!

(Although, I have to say … if I were getting a wish, I think it’d be for a unicorn or something. Just sayin’.)

In other news, here’s Chapter 3 of Tesla 2010 wherein Nikola Tesla finally makes it to the year 2010.

So, on Friday morning, the phone rings. Tracy answers it and it’s for me. I’m about to head out the door when she stops me with the words, “It’s someone from Apple, and they want to talk to you.” I take the call.

Sadly, it was a woman from the app review process to tell me that even after resubmission and a note from me explaining why I wanted the app to be so simple, they were still rejecting Starfield 3D because they felt it didn’t have enough functionality. I was bummed about that, but it was nice that they actually called. I guess it’s back to the drawing board.

On a different note, here’s Chapter 2 of Tesla: 2010. If I were giving chapters names, this one would be called “Mysterious Stranger”.