the tummy grumbles

Happy Sunday!  Happy sunshiney crisp autumn day.  A great day to take Avery on her first subway ride.  She slept through it.  Marjorie has been curious about Astoria since coming to New York, so we had a peek.  Avery slept through almost the entire jaunt, but that just means she was having a good time.  Right?  Whenever a loud sound stirred her, she would lurch her head around, but as soon as she heard me or Mum, she would immediately zonk right out again.  Adorable, awesome, and hopefully an ability that never goes away.

So Astoria, from the bit of Ditmars that we saw, is what you’d imagine suburban Queens would be.  Few buildings over two stories.  Mostly half a century old or older.  Lots of tiny stores.  Real character.  We saw a Starbucks, and it stood out.  We went in anyway, because the weather demanded a peppermint mocha and (I think) an eggnog latte.  Apparently there’s a lot more in the way of big chains like the Gap a few more blocks away on Steinway, but that’s not what we were looking for.  You can find those anywhere.  Literally.  Like, bottom of the ocean, and opening soon Mars 2020.  Anyway, it was a little too crisp for the extended jaunt to Astoria Park, but we’ll do that eventually.  It’s supposed to be a nice park.  A pool and such.

We have to go back, regardless (not irregardless, because that’s not a word).  We’ve heard from reliable sources that the best Thai food in town is to be had in Astoria.  And that’s worth a quest.  Mmmmm yes, oh you bess belee dat.

What’s your opinion of gripe water?  Sodium bicarbonate, dill, fennel.  Other stuff.  Let’s say the no booze version, to move the conversation forward quickly.  As far as western medicine is concerned, gripe water is for old wives.  But that could be because nobody can patent it, so they’d just as soon discredit it.  Like the medicinal properties of marijuana.  But lest I digress, bicarbonate is what makes Tums work, so I could see it being helpful to a baby with a troubled tummy – if it’s acid related.  But gripe water is given for colic (describing behaviour traditionally associated with gastrointestinal discomfort.  Actually, that’s a great Wiki article.  You should go read it.) and there’s really nothing in gripe water that deals with gas.  It seems to me it should contain simethicone, which helps gas move quickly through the body by decreasing the surface tension of the bubbles – bigger bubbles pass more easily.  Apparently.  Ok.  A Google search shows that gripe water generally doesn’t include simethicone, but lots of moms use both and their physicians are fine with it.  So.  Maybe that’s the direction.  Symptom-wise, the meltdowns do happen in the evening, and can last for hours, which is all on the mark for “colic”, or perhaps actual lactose intolerance – though that’s unlikely because they started before the formula.  But I’m not going to diagnose this to death.  I’ll just suggest to Mum that even though these meltdowns have been only a weekly occurrence, we give the cocktail a shot.  Little Tummys does both – for some reason not conveniently combining them.  Might give that a closer look.  Thanks again, mighty Goog.

You know what?  Thanks also to the incredible efforts of the recovery teams here in the tristate area (that’s New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, for those that didn’t know – like me).  Sandy kicked our asses, and in one week we have transit and power back for most of the five million affected.  Sincerely, my gratitude and impressedness to Con Ed (and other utilities not currently in big trouble for sucking), the MTA, and the literally thousands of men and women who knocked themselves out around the clock getting us all back in the game – and are still going.  Outstanding.  There are a lot of people out in Red Hook, Staten Island, and other areas that are still struggling, and aren’t in a position yet to appreciate, but I know you guys are working your asses off against stunning challenges.  On behalf of my family, especially my warm and dry baby girl, thank you.

Right there is why you guys work so hard, and I appreciate the hell out of that.  If she had the words, and could stay awake long enough, I’m sure she’d echo the sentiment.

Dammit.  I just realized I have yet to return the call that might be from the guy that nearly made me the first statistic of the hurricane.  No hard feelings, actually.  I’m overjoyed to be alive and I trust he’ll look twice next time he hangs a fast louie.  Gotta call that number.  I guess lunch hour tomorrow is the new target.

Sleep well, dear reader.  Now go rack up another hug.  Election day in the US is less than 24 hours away.