Paul Jones Dayton

I still feel sick. It is not fun. All i want to do is take a plunger to my digestive tract.

I feel strange tonight, so I thought I would share some video of myself.

I have been very fortunate to have had many good days lately.

The economy sucks, but I am still employed (thank goodness).  The world feels like it is crashing down, but my home is safe and full of love (thank goodness again).

Yesterday little Miles laughed a very clear laugh– he is growing up quickly — almost two and a half months old.

Obama is President, and he appears to be trying very bold things.  The budget that he proposes is targeted directly at the middle class and poor individuals.  Imagine a government that is subserviant to the special interest of the majority — Obama just might bring this.  Let’s pray.

I have been playing with twitter: http://twitter.com/ximz.  It took me a while to figure out how it was useful (I must be getting old at age 25), but I think I can use it.  The more I use it the more I find that it gives me a real time sense of what people are thinking, something that blogs just are too slow to do.  It is amazing that today things that are one day old are very stale.

As ususal I am too connected, and I would love some time on a train away from high speed internet, work, or home.  Mandy: Let’s take a train ride.

I would have to say that the snuggie is the finest product I have ever purchased.

Miles is feeling a lot better. Today he began bottle feeding at the ICU. I will be dropping by this evening for his second bottle feeding.

Mandy got sick this morning. We are both now at her doctor’s office where she is getting the IV treatment along with some heavy duty antibiotics.

If all goes well on both fronts we may be a whole family at home by the end of the week .

I am posting another video from the Paul Dayton Video Vault.  This was a “book report” that a couple friends and I did for an 8th grade project.  It is missing the final scene (I may find it later).

From the Paul Dayton archives: Paul Dayton and Jake Waters in dresses singing a Jesus hymn.

I know this post is kind of silly, but I have been thinking about how Obama’s life story seems so real to me.  The reality of his story is evident to me because we share a similar family history.

• Both raised in single parent homes.  My father left when I was three, and in similar fashion to Obama, I feel like I was shaped more by him not being there.
• Mixed Racial Heritage.  My mother was white, and my father was Hispanic.  The name on my birth certificate is Paul Benitez, which clearly identifies my Hispanic roots.  When I was 12, years after the my mother’s divorce, we changed my name to the present Paul Jones Dayton.  Dayton was my mother’s maiden name, while Jones was my grandmother’s maiden name.
• Close relationship with grandmother.  My grandma was like a second mom, or in some ways, similar to a father.

Sadly there are times when I stay too connected to the world.  Mandy took this picture of me on a typical weekend, note the iPhone and the Mac.  Sometimes breakfast just can’t wait.

Well it has been a while since I have posted.  I am doing ok.  Starla, Mandy and I have been sick all week.  This morning at 2:00 Starla woke up crying because she just couldn’t handle her cold and sore throat.  It is really hard to see your child in pain, but you also feel really good when you can help her feel better.

The pregnancy is going well, however it is trying on Mandy’s body.  She is having a hard time keeping her iron levels high and is on a large amount of iron supplements.  Sometimes she feels really tired and disoriented.  The good news is baby Miles is doing well.

Work is busy, but I continue to enjoy it.  This year has been a good year for my work life, with the exception of too many late nights.  I don’t think it is possible to work in IT without having to put in one’s share of late nights.

Generally speaking all is going well with the Dayton family.  I can’t wait until Miles comes in December, and I also can’t wait for the election of Barack Obama.