Sources tell us that since Elsie is a year old she can now drink regular cow's milk.  Does this mean The Great Formula Debate is over?  Maybe so, though it was fun while it lasted.  I ran into a woman at a party this evening who told me she actually reads "Diaper Bandit" and she was worried that after the heated debate over our formula use that I'd been scared away from posting anything at all.  Not so!  Diaper Bandit is not afraid!  We were just not near any good internet access over the holidays, that's all.   We didn't even have cars where we went, just horses and sleighs.

While we were off in those hinterlands, we decided to take Elsie over to a friend's farm so she could meet the makers of her future milk. 

She enjoyed the animals very much, including this giant pig whom she might someday eat as well.  I'm a pretty big fan of bacon, but I have to admit it's hard to picture killing a nice old pig.  They really do seem like they have complex emotions even though they sleep in mud.  Charlotte's Web!

Elsie has begun to take her first tentative steps now, which is exciting.  But I'm about to be gone for a month long work trip so I'll be pretty sad to miss out on the all latest developments.  I imagine when I return she'll be running around like Carl Lewis.  I don't know how soldiers who go off on a tour for a year or more do it.  I wouldn't want to miss more than a month, and even that seems long.  Back when I was in jail I couldn't stand being away for even 48 hours.  Imagine if you were in prison for 10 years!  The depression those guys feel must be crushing.  But then I guess they should have thought of that before jacking that car from the old lady.  

Well, that's the news from Portland, Oregon, where it's very rainy, but also very nice, and all the milk is local and organic, even if it doesn't come from a woman's breast.