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• Look! Over There!

  Well, you could watch a video I took of Hugo eating a slice of pizza. I mean, that'd be fun. Thrills a plenty, for sure.  Or, you could watch this awesome video parody of a moveon.org ad featuring a mother and baby. No, scratch that.  No watching Hugo eat pizza.  The choice is clear.  You should watch comedian Laurie Kilmartin, pictured, and her video parody of a mother's plea to John McCain.  FYI, in the video that's her real kid, if not his real name.  Her kid is one day older than Hugo.  Which, if you're a Hugo groupie, will certainly ensnare you to watch. You can check out the original vid followed by her parody right here on Strollerderby.  And if you like that, which you will if you've any taste, you can read all of her recent political and current event goodness on 23/6 over here: http://www.236.com/newswriters/Laurie+Kilmartin  That is all for now Web pals. It's time for my biannual floss and I'm off to bed. Wishing you and yours all the things you wish for.  xoxo, Susie  Posted Jun 20 2008, 11:23 PM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: baby, stay in iraq for 100 years, laurie kilmartin, john mccain, moveon.org, 236.com, parody

• Yo Silverware's Been Where?

  Hey, let's have less yapping in print and more video action! Ya? Ya! This short slice o' baby life is so filled with raw emotion and drama, those with heart conditions are urged not to view it.   You have been warned!   So what do you say? Would this video be more exciting if it featured the siverware drawer of Beyonce? Because we can make that happen. Just say the word. Best to you out there in where you are wherever that is. xoxo, Susie    Posted Jun 18 2008, 08:17 PM by Susie Felber with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: baby, a video so amazing, beyonce, silverware, thrills, heart conditions, you will plotz

• I = Done

  Long day of work, biz lunch, then dinner for baby, then check into work, then play in the park, then playing mega fetch with 8-year-old next door and Stan and then bath and then Hugo knocking over the 8-year-old's orange juice, then cleaning up the OJ then baby bedtime (milk, books, brush), then making awesome shrimp Madras for me and man, then nostalgic red wine (Gigondas baby!) then back to work and then making one of my sillier vids ever for Babble.  Hope you lurve it. Did I mention I'm pooped? Ya, I think so. Loving youse Interneters. xoxo, Susie Posted Jun 12 2008, 10:56 PM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: video, baby, wine, dog, weehawken, gigondas, toddlerr water park

• HEATWAVE! The Movie

  First an absurdly cute pic of Hugo from this sizzling weekend at Grandma's house 'n garden, followed by a wild knock your Crocs off cinematic A/C baby romp.   Absurdly hot? Check! Now check out Hugo cooling himself off first thing in the AM.   Now if that wasn't the crickets bollocks, I don't know what is. Night Web superfriends. Je suis beat. More soon! Including the worldwide reactions to my recent TV superstardom. Preview: ::cricket, cricket:: OK, I got to go be fabulous! a.k.a. get sleep. xoxo, Susie Music cred: That's The M's singing The Beatles "Good Morning Good Morning" on this Mojo magazine Sgt. Pepper tribute album. Posted Jun 09 2008, 10:19 PM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: baby, it's the heat and the humidity, air conditioner, heatwave, summer blockbuster, peony

• See Me on TV!

  Yes, the world will be watching me on TV.  And by "the world" I mean my mother and my Hugo... details to follow this cute pic of them I snapped at the park this past weekend. Actually, Hugo doesn't watch TV* so it might just be my mother.  But maybe just may you will see me too if you tune in and/or know how to work your DVR.  In short, I will be appearing on CNN Headline News Saturday, Sunday and Monday on Not Just Another Cable News Show.  It's sort of like Best Week Ever meets CNN.  And I will be giving hilarious pithy commentary.  Also, I'm hoping I look good.  Or OK.  Or just not like a tranny Shamu. Further links, airtime details and more can be found at this post on my personal blog. If you do watch, let me know how wonderful I am, would ya?  Or, at the very least, let me know that you think I am funny for a cross-dressing killer whale.  Thanks kids, yer the tops! No video tonight because I am being a shameless self-promoting mamacita.  Well that and the videos I have are not up to the caliber of "NAPTIME" -- my recent arresting Toddler Tube trilogy that is so visually stunning, it makes LOTR look like cold Alpo. See you soon Interbuddies and hope to see you watching me on the boob tube! xoxo, me * Re: Hugo not watching TV -- I'm not against it at this point (I was, for right or wrong when he was super young), but since he has never "met" the TV, I don't see a reason to introduce him to it.  It's kind of nice he's blissfully unaware that it exists.  No?  Yes?  I'm not sure.  Maybe if he misbehaves I'll force him to watch mommy's reel. (shiver!) Posted Jun 06 2008, 11:33 PM by Susie Felber with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: baby, early intervention, CNN HNN, naptim, baby watching television, not just anouther cable news show

• Naptime Part the First

  NAPTIME!   Will he fall asleep? Won't he? Check back in all this week to see the next installment and the thrilling conclusion of NAPTIME! In personal news, my mom came and we partied in the Hawk all weekend long. But seriously, we had a fab time and she helped me so I could go exercise, which I so need these days for mental and physical well being. I particularly liked having wine and crackers and chatting after Hugo went to sleep. She drove me nuts at times and I became cranky, but she deserves me as much as I deserve her. As of late this afternoon my handsome Brit man unit is back from the UK and I'm feeling no pain. Hugo was thrilled and didn't want him out of his sight. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband I fear saying it will making a bolt fly from the sky and zap one of us squarely in the rump, so instead, I'll say, yeah, he's alright, I guess. OK, I did the treadmill tonight so I've got to shower before getting into bed lest I scare the man back to the sheep of Yorkshire.  Night night Internet. xoxo, Susie Posted Jun 02 2008, 10:30 PM by Susie Felber with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: baby, naptime, exercise, 19 month old napping, toddler sleep, my mother makes me nuts

• Wait, Your Baby Does What?

  I was reading a new feature article on Babble tonight called "The Little Man" about a woman who wanted a girl but got a boy and was stopped in my tracks by this sentence: "Now, at a year and a half, he gets what I call his "work face" on as he takes the filter out of the vacuum empties it in the garbage, puts it back, replaces the cover and then proceeds to vacuum." Now my year and a half old is supposedly, according to the state of New Jersey's early intervention program, advanced in all things but language.  However, he does not empty and replace my vaccum and then proceed to vacuum.  I mean, sure he's never seen me vaccum (OK maybe once or twice but it's not my slobitude, he was scared of it so we stopped it) but even still, I can not see him happily and competently completing this task from start to finish.  I see Hugo taking the filter out, waving it in the air, banging it on a table to see the dust come out, laughing at the dust, and then running around the house like a maniac with it before playing with the fallen debris in a determined manner while mommy calmly cleans it all up.  So what do you think, dear readers? Does my child need housekeeping intervention?  Or does this woman perhaps, overstate the babe-ilites? Well you know what my child is good at?  Watch this video taken this morning on our ugliest couch (one from Ikea that I married into) before the make lunch, get dressed, get to daycare scramble.     As Daddy is in the UK, we're missing him but we're hanging loose. And thanks to technology, he's watching what happened in his living room across the ocean. That amazes me. Maybe I'm old?  Heck, the television still amazes me.  So does the lightbulb, magic lantern and the Cotton Gin.  See ya soon Internet.  Lovings on you. xoxo, Susie  Posted May 29 2008, 10:44 PM by Susie Felber with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: baby, early intervention, ugly ikea couch, vacuum, housekeeping

• Babies Make Crappy Gardeners

  Basically, if you were thinking of hiring a baby gardener -- think again!  Or maybe it's just my Hugo who can't seem to get the hang of it.  I think it's clear we need to get a landscape architect to deliver some sorely needed early intervention. Note: Fence bit that is wonky due to deer/bear invasions.  Not only can't he mow, his weeding was limited to flinging what I had already pulled and his raking... well, see for yourselves...    OK Internet, I am loving you. xoxo, Susie Posted May 20 2008, 10:16 PM by Susie Felber with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: baby, catskills, gardening, deer, mowing, bears, toddlerro mower, baby landscapers

• The Wayback Machine

  How on earth did I get this job?  Well, besides my impressive resume -- TV! Print! Film!! -- I'm still someone you've never heard of.  So I did some spec videos.  Or more like, my friend Rachel did them on the fly when she visited us and the rest is history.  But what were these brilliant spec videos like?  Well, here's one.  It was my first attempt at a video and it quickly dawned on me why they say you shouldn't work with kids or animals.  #1 they steal the scene and #2 they bite you.   This was a little more than three months ago, and I am kind of shocked by how small and wlldly unreasonable he is as compared to now. Time flies, etc. etc. to infinity.  Also I'm shocked at how I didn't have a haircut sooner.  And I'm horriied at how often I still wear the drab, yet jazzy grey shirt in this video.  Anyway... Lots of love Internet friends and feel free to use the comments to tell me your weekend plans. I promise I will live vicariously through you.  xoxo, Susie  Posted May 16 2008, 10:30 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, wayback machine, you should never work with kids or animals, time flies, spec videos rachel kramer bussel

• Cow Attack!

  Has this blog jumped the shark?  No, but now, it has perhaps jumped the cow.  Behold the vicious cow of doom!  In other news: I worked like a fiend to finish work early today too go see a doctor for my pink eye.  Roughly $100 and four hours later, I have a little bottle, less than an inch high, of super special eye drops.  If stinging means they are working, then they are working. I am doing a MOS (man on the street) shoot tomorrow morning in midtown for the day job.  Of course the biblical weather predicted means this won't happen, but we have decided to play chicken with the low front and boldly press on!  My other exciting performing opportunity was slightly delayed by my hideous eye.  Soon, though.  And linkage when it happens. Hugo was so cute today my heart nearly shattered into small uneven pieces.  However, in between adorable and perfect, he was cranky and annoying. I blame him for being a baby and me for having to schlep him into Manhattan and through traffic to get my undead zombie eye fixed. Holy Cannoli!  It's about that time -- time for me to shut up!  Lotsa lurve Internet chickadees,  And beware of cow attacks,  xoxo, Susie    Posted May 15 2008, 10:13 PM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: baby, day job, cow attack, pink eye, MOS shoot, manhattan, crappy weather

• Family Secrets & Sunshine

  First a quick kvetch: I've come down with pink eye.  Painful, itchy, unattractive and certainly caught from Hugo.  This would all be a laugh but I've actually gotten on camera work for later in the week.  Awesome!  Fingers and eyes crossed that it goes away. Secondly, via some minor Internet sleuthing, I cracked open a major family scandal that's nearly 100 years old.  However, one family member still feels it's too hot to handle so I'm keeping quiet.  Oh but it's good.  Forget pink eye, my eyeballs nearly dropped to the ground when I read about this nefarious, and rather charmingly hilarious business.  But no more on that. While my relations were running from, around or into the law, the relations on my husband's side were growing prize roses and getting knighted for good deeds and such over in merry olde England. Speaking of this Brit side, here's a super special guest video featuring Hugo's cousin Annie enjoying the early summer over there. Ya, blazing sunshine and bathing suits in May... I certainly don't remember this from my Dickens.   Isn't she absurdly cuuuuuute? Isn't technology amazing? Don't you think it's odd she's not related to me by blood yet sports the fabulous diva hair? OK, I've got to get some shut (pink)eye. Posted May 12 2008, 10:45 PM by Susie Felber with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: baby, summer, england, toddler pool

• Chemo Cuties

  I'm in Florida right now visiting a writer/teacher friend, all on my own -- away from the babe and the man unit as of last night.  This is my first time away from Hugo for 24 hours, ever.  It's blazingly sunny as I blog this outside a fab joint called the 2nd St. Bakery in Gainesville.  Spanish moss hangs from the trees.  Some massive bird just flew by -- think it was a pterodactyl. A cup of sliceable coffee is being had. A cookie with chocolate, pistachio and cranberry has been demolished.  Hey, it's my lunch, cut me some slack!  Also, calories don't count beneath the Mason Dixon line.  OK I made that up.  ANYWAY...   I'm visiting my friend Sharon (above) because she's awesome.  But luckily her cancer gave me a great excuse to come see her.  Yay cancer!  But seriously folks, today marked her last chemo treament.  And so when the nurses (who were obviously really fond of her) revealed that they had a special final chemo song for her, I knew I had to grab my camera.   I didn't think I'd share it here, I just thought she'd want it for posterity. But Shar is the opposite of shy about this and really eager to share the Shands serenade with all her friends and all of y'all.  I hope you love it as much as we do.   The nurse told us the song comes from Illinois.  Their singing was aces but the confetti really brought it home, no? I am really pro-confetti.  I'm kind of bummed they didn't break it out at NYU when Hugo was born.  That would've been awesome. Since this is Toddler Tube, here's a pic of the toddler, even though he's hundreds of miles away. I took this pic yesterday. The fact that he's playing concerned baby doctor, is just a coincidence, swear. I know sweet-smelling baby and his handsome daddy and his recovering doggie are doing swell, and not because I call every ten minutes.  I only call every 20 minutes. Ba Dum BUM! Love to you, Internet friends And also kisses, :) <-- and sincere emoticons too.  Susie   Posted May 02 2008, 05:09 PM by Susie Felber with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: baby, dogs, cancer, illness, florida, gainesville, shands, free wifi, 2nd street cafe, final chemo song, chemotherapy, baby wearing doggie pajamas, eating giant cookies, cranberry pistachio chocolate cookies

• Gettin' Handsy

  File this vignette under "things I didn't think I'd enjoy but now totally go to mush over."  Actually, I guess one could say that's my experience with Mr. baby in a nutshell.  Anyway -- let's go to the video(no)tape! In other news, the only news I can think about -- Stan the dog is still not better.  He finally ate a few shards of food late this afternoon so we're encouraged.  Was it due to the painkiller the vet gave him this morning?  Was it laying off the antibiotics... that we're about to start up again? Is he just better?  We've no idea and yet -- just choosing to be positive.   Here's another pic of Stan and Hugo from a few months ago, chillin' out (and beging for love) in his nursery. Night Internet. Sorry I'm not chattier but I'm spent from worry and work. xoxo, Susie  Posted Apr 29 2008, 09:59 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, dog, nursery, illness, crib, used crib, teriers and babies, mutt

• Country Mouse

  First a picture of Hugo (l) and Stan (r) having a chat about our bumper crop this past fall.  Then we'll get onto talking about the here and now and all...   OK, so Stan the dog is still sick and we've still no idea what's going on.  Concentrating is hard.  Sonogram is Wednesday.  One moment I'm convinced he's dying and the next I tell myself it's just a bad tooth and once the antibiotics kick in... But he's still not really eating so the vet said no more antibiotics for now and -- Oi.  I'm just going to refrain from telling you our dog's entire medical history, tempted as I am to do just that.  My mom has been calling about 50 X/day desperate to hear, "How Stan is now?  Or now? And how about, right NOW?" And I act annoyed but I'm actually thrilled someone cares about this messy mutt as much as I do. Below is a video taken yesterday in the country. It was a brief respite from dog worries as when Stan is out, he seems to perk up and somehow he's "full of the joys of spring" as my man says. Thanks for watching Web dears. See you tomorrow. Lots of xoxo, Susie Posted Apr 28 2008, 10:51 PM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: baby, dog, catskills, antibiotics, everyone i know is sick, stan, dog off his food, sullivan county, fear of death, illness

• Non-MTV Cribs

  Hugo naps at noon.  By 12:05 he's a zombie and he's usually out by 12:06.  He's trained like a seal is all.  Anyway, this video shows off the highlights of his nursery as he's drifting off.  I don't know if it takes a village to raise a child, but it does take one to trick out a babe's room this nicely.       By the way, Steve, whose painting is currently on perma loan to Hugo, is an amazing illustrator (you probably see his work if you watch the commercials during recent Yankees games) who also has a daily sketch blog that s not to be missed. Check out sketchoftheday.blogspot.com.  Also Pikey is an award-winning quilter, just a tad of evidence of this can be seen here. Not to sound "wet" as my Brit would say, but we are really lucky to know such talented artists and have them as family.  Yes, boring sincerity -- deal with it!  Oh and the even crib itself is a hand-me-down from my photographer pal Shana. Plus with fabulous baby clothes flying at us from every direction, I think the only thing we've had to buy Hugo has been food.  Ya, I feel very lucky. See you soon Internet comrades, Mwah! xoxo, Susie Posted Apr 23 2008, 12:07 AM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: baby, quilting, yankees, sketch, wall hanging, illustrator, naps, nursery

• Earth Day NJ: Mommy Flips Out

  Jumbo Shrimp.  Brooklyn College.  And now, improbable as it seems, the deliciously oxymoronic Earth Day New Jersey. The man unit was working this past Sunday and I'd been too busy to plan ahead with friends, so Hugo and I had to find a way to entertain ourselves.  I loathe shopping, so during naptime, when I read about the park with Earth Day Fair and promised children's activities, I said what the hay. Check out my thrilling quest through Satan's arse NJ.  Driving less than 6 miles, took an hour. Oi. Sorry Earth, my bad! In other news, I lost 3 pounds this week with moderate diet and exercise.  Which is super impressive if you hadn't read about last week's scandalous weigh-in.  Oh well.  Keep on keepin' on... Coming this week, stay tuned for a peek or three into our wacky, fun, drama and food-filled Seder at Grandma's.  See you soon Internet friends. Kisses, me UPDATE:  Turns out Earth Day celebration was Saturday, not Sunday and the emails alerting me to the event just showed up late.  But in my DUH-fense, before I went, I swear I checked the park's website.  As you can see the website for Liberty State Park is one page with no links.  But I dug and found the park's calendar of events, which you can see, hasn't been updated since 2001 (!).  Still, being caught in traffic and having a little girl in a pretty dress spit on my dog* was cool, right? * The mother of the little girl didn't say anything to her daughter when/after she spit on my dog and since the mother was obviously a Muslim (she and what looked like the girl's grandmother were wearing the headscarves), I was too intimidated by my guilty liberal conscience to say anything/get visibly angry.  But when after she spat twice, the little girl made as if to stamp on my dog like he was a little ant, I said, "No, we do not threaten dogs."  But I said it in a really soft way as she wasn't my daughter and again, I didn't want to seem like I had anything against Muslims, because I don't.  I know, I'm an idiot for going to Earth Day the wrong day and possibly for being so careful I am incapable, in the moment, of giving minorities the same "me" I'd give anyone else.   Posted Apr 21 2008, 09:23 PM by Susie Felber with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: baby, weehawken, weight watchers, exercise, diet, irony, earth day, alexander hamlton, new jersey, oxymorons, brooklyn college

• Romance & Radiators -- Hot Stuff!

  See that saucy cover? Thing is, my mom has a new book coming out 5.27.08.  For those of you that don't know, which is most of you, my mother is an award-winning author who has published over 30 historical novels.  As her new book is coming out roundabout Mother's Day, I've decided to pull out all the stops and be relentlesly gushy and promotional for her.  Why? #1 She writes a great book.  #2 She is totally ridiculously, stupidly shy about being self-promotional. #3 I''ve written to "Regis & Kelly's Mom's Dream Come True Contest" for YEARS trying to get them interested in her only-spoken-to-me dream: having Kelly feature one of her novels as a great beach read.  See my perky blog from 2005 about entering this contest -- somewhat hilariously, you can tell I was convinced we would win.  It would cost them nothing!  She so deserves it!  But alas, no.  Didn't happen. So fine! As Babble is about kids and writing all that, I feel this is the perfect place to have you get to know her.  She's my inspiration -- if she could have three kids and a career then impossible is nothing.  OK, she did have a husband who was a doctor, but add in the fact that women of her generation didn't have careers and we're even steven. Almost, maybe? Here's mom pre-me and pre-published novelist... And here, way post-me and post-published 30 novels... Lookie dat -- no surgery or botox or nothing, people! OK , stay tuned for more on her TK this month including awesome photos of her blatently subjecting me to secondhand smoke! Who misses the 70's? I do! Speaking of HOT STUFF... Along with my job and all, I'm trying to learn how to make slammin' podcasts ( like this recent one I appear in but didn't make or write) and original vids.  So I've taken on trying to make a book trailer for a friend. It's for an erotic anthology and I'm attempting to do one straight 'n sexy and one funny.  We shall see! OK so speaking of HOT -- here's a motionbox video of Hugo going wild with a radiator and a copy of the Financial Times* Arts section. If that's wrong, I don't wanna be right. *Linked brilliant article is by the man unit/papa de Hugo. Yes, I live to promote those I love -- deal! NOTE: Second fab photo of mom by Lisa Whiteman Posted Apr 16 2008, 10:41 PM by Susie Felber with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: baby, edith layton, podcasts, avon romance, erotica, book trailers, mother's day, radiator covers, second hand smoke, 70's, regis and kellys mom's dream come true contest, ft, comedy 365, financial times

• Come 4 the Cancer, Stay 4 the Candy

  Today I had work, but I worked from Sloan-Kettering where [redacted secret person] is getting treated for [redacted secret illness].  As these things go it was pretty nice actually.  There are tinkling fountains there, lots of orchids, lovely old friends joined, and we enjoyed free wi-fi, coffee and all the hard candies you could eat.  It almost makes a person want to be sick! Anywho, then I had a playdate with S. which was delightful but then it was back to work and then onto the treadmill after 9:30PM and tomorrow I've dentist appointment at 8AM so that work doesn't get annoyed, then I've work, then the joy of seeing the accountant (is any of my drama deductible?).  Oh and the key just broke in the lock so we've also the fun of meeting a locksmith.  So basically?  Life is a bit of a run around right now.   Here's a video from a simpler time: the weekend.  As you can see, on the weekend, the run around is much more fun.    Night Internet.  Big hugs to all o' youse. xoxo,   Susie  Posted Apr 10 2008, 11:32 PM by Susie Felber with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: baby, weekend, accountant, dentist, cancer, sloan-kettering

• Stomach Bugged

  The good news: I've lost 3 pounds this week for a total of 6.5 lost.  I'm well on my way to goal: losing 20 -- nearly as much as you see in that there wheelbarrow. The bad news: Though I ate right and exercised my little patootie off on six out of seven days, some of that is due to having gotten food poisoning or a virus or who knows what.  I was in pain on Saturday night and last night I shook with chills like a St. Vitus dancer and endured cramps until my insides finally gave up and waved the white flag.  I made it to the bathroom and did not pass out while there so I considered the whole trip a roaring success.  This morning I was too dizzy to drive Hugo to school (yes daycare, I know!) so I left it to my man.  But although I felt like death warmed over, and was running a fever, I did work as this is what one does when they telecommute.  Since no one needed to see me, and I could reel around and not fear vomiting on some network execs shoes, I pressed on. I was convinced crampgate was all due to a bag of tainted baby carrots.  But my man unit, who did not partake of the carrots, had to come home from work early and is currently laid up on the couch enduring the same crampy illness. So far, Hugo baby, the unrepentant culprit of all sickness, is fine.  So "go know,"  as my mother would say. As I'm feeling crap at the moment and must go walk the dog as the man unit is experiencing a rare malfunction, I'll leave you with a taste of Hugo's entertainment from this weekend's upstate trek.  From all the raking and the barrowing around, we should be quite buff by now.  If the commentary in this video is a bit dull -- you are right!  I was too overcome by the cuteness.  Couldn't speak.  More clever V/O shortly. Posted Apr 07 2008, 09:13 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, stomach virus, upstate ny, st. vitus dance, wheelbarrow

• Speak No Evil? Speak No Nothin'!

  Hugo is a normal happy baby and perfect in all ways.  But he's all but turned off his talking apparatus.  He's just hit 17 months and he talks less than when he was 12 months.   Am I worried?  No, the doctor said he's obviously an alert, social and happy baby and it's no sign of his intelligence and that he is absolutely not autistic do't even go there and that it is probably because my husband was a late bloomer.  My man went to Oxford with some sort of special designation for being a brain bucket.  But as a baby, reports from his mother (who should be biased as she thinks the sun rises on his left shoulder and sets on his right) are that he was late in everything.  I think she said he was a blonde blob of a baby who didn't walk until he was 22 -- years old.  Or something. But anyway, awesome, blaming his genes sounds fab. Again, am I worried?  OK, yes.  But only because the doctor uttered dreaded words "early intervention" and then she reminded me again that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him and then asked the nurse to leave and asked if I was OK.  Wait, you said there was nothing wrong with him?  So why are you expecting me to be not OK? Would you, dear readers, be OK?  How can you both not worry and yet look into "early intervention"?    Yes so to illustrate this post I intentionally picked the one video I have of him acting a bit like an autistic potato.  Enjoy!  And I'll let you know how the talking and intervening and all that comes along. See you soon Web lovelies, xoxo, Susie Posted Mar 28 2008, 09:56 PM by Susie Felber with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: baby, autism, speech delay, early intervention, oxford

• Baby's 1st Casino

  I'll get to the shocking footage of a minor on the gaming floor.  But first some housekeeping followed by a photo of extreme cuteness. Housekeeping: Yesterday, I was so excited for my brother's baby I wrote, "Hugo has a cousin!"  Which implies that Hugo never had a cousin.  He does, he has lovely cousins in the UK.  He's the first cousin to be had on my side.  I plead joy-induced stupidity! Photo of extreme cuteness: This is Hugo wth our neighbor V.  Look at Hugo's blissed out smile! V. is crazy about babies and babies are crazy about V.  You know how Aquaman can communicate with fish?  That's how V. is with the toddler set.  V. is kind and the best baker I've ever known.  I knew her for years before learning she grew up with her six siblings in a war refugee camp from ages 5-16. They only had use of an oven once a week and she didn't own a non-used pair of shoes until she was 16. She keeps her garden so clean you could perform surgery on it, grows tons of veggies and complains that after weeding and cutting her entire two-acre yard by hand, she gets tired.  Obviously, she makes the rest of us look bad and must be stopped. Moving on.  I had to do a fun photo gallery in the Catskills for work (link TK soon) and so I visited a lot of bizarre places.  Some were Borscht Belt dreams come true -- exploring the old Concord Hotel and Grossinger's Resort were thrilling, even though they're in ruins.  Some things were thrillingly awful -- like the guy who had a freshly sawed off hog's head as a dashboard ornament (you've got to see to believe).  But only one thing was genuinely depressing:  the gaming center.  Seniors staring at video slots like zombies in a windowless room while a chirpy woman on the PA said "Woo hoo!" and "Gimme a woo hoo!"  We got two crappy coffees at $2.25 a pop and Hugo had a blueberry muffin that contained perhaps half a blueberry.  I took this video but as you can tell I'm unnaturaly quiet because the place scared the heck outta me.  Here's the video:   My man unit asked me what would hapen if he ever took up gaming here and I said, sorry, I'd leave him, I should've mentioned this before.  I told him if I ever took this up he should shoot me because obviously I've lost my mind. I mean, I dislike gambling, period.  But at least wth table games you have human opponents and you can flash them a James Bond look as you try to work the psychological angle and -- During this thrilling conversation a security guard had been deployed to kick us out saying no one under 17 was allowed on the gaming floor and technically and apparently this food court was the gaming floor.   I was never happier to be booted out of somewhere.  I was practically skipping.  Honestly jail seems a better deal than video slots.  Jail has a library, free food and more glimpses of sunshine. Yes, I hated this place even more than I hate shopping malls, that's how bad it was. I'm too tired to keep this post brief.  Apologies!    l8r Web friends of wonder.  xoxo, Susie  Posted Mar 27 2008, 10:10 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, casino, monticello raceway, gaming, video slots

• OMG --IT'S A BOY!!

  I AM NOW AN AUNT!!!  HUGO HAS A COUSIN!!!  AND NO, I WILL NOT USE MY INSIDE VOICE!!! Sebastian Q. Felber* was born today: 7 lb. 12 oz. From what I hear, the birth was brisk and without too much trauma, and of course I'm dying to hear all about it.  As Hugo's birth and my recovery was like a very special episode of House, for me, hearing about an easy birth is like eating a Reese's Pieces Sundae while watching good p0rn. I am totally scooping my brother (blogger, writer for Real Time, NPR star) on his own child's birth.  And I'm posting this beautiful photo I snagged from our mom and am reprinting it here without permission.  I am an Auntierazzi!  When I heard the news from Adam I was at my weekly playdate and I was crying -- bawling -- with happiness.  I put a sock in it once I realized I might be scaring little Finnegan.  I've wanted to meet an Adam and Jeanne creation for a long time --- even back when I didn't like babies. This is one of the best things to happen, ever.  Now, if only Los Angeles would close forever and send everyone home, it would be perfect.    And hey, I've got tons of video of Hugo, and yes, I know this is a video blog that posts videos (using a delightful video site called motionbox.com).  But today I can only think of this new life and how happy I am for two of the best parents a kid could ever have.  Y'all have a fabulous night and check back tomorrow for a new video blog of excitement!   * There's a story behind the Q. and yes, its great and maybe my bro will tell it.  Stay tuned.    Posted Mar 26 2008, 10:37 PM by Susie Felber with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: baby, bill maher, npr, los angeles, birth, sebastian Q. felber, Reese's Pieces Sundae

• Feeling Groovy

  I just got home from seeing old friends who I dearly love.  All comedians, all people who I got to know years ago and instantly felt like I'd finally met peeps from my home panet.  Anyway, I'm feeling no pain and I'm exhasuted (I even got on the dang treadmill today!) and I want to hit the duvets (yes, brag -- we've more than one coverlet!). So here's a short and sweet vid of our Hugo in the car this weekend.  Hugo is a great sleeper (no whammys!)  and we want to keep it that way so we plan car trips with terrifying naptime precision.  But looking at the cuteness you'd think it was just a simple drive in the country.  Which it was, and is, but isn't really, if that makes any sense.    L8r Webkins! xoxo, Susie Posted Mar 26 2008, 12:40 AM by Susie Felber with | with no comments Filed under: baby, car, naptime, comedians, nap, duvet

• Spring, My Spotty Pink Rump

  We spent this past weekend in the Catskills, where we have a charming little weekend house.  Before you go thinking I was born with a tin spoon in my mouth, know that it is a charming 2 bedroom cabin and it cost less than owning a birdhouse anywhere in NYC. Save for coming back to find something had died in our fridge and we need a new one, we had a blast. I ran around taking wild photos for my day job, which was a great excuse to visit famous and not-so-famous Borscht Belt sites. But oh it was dang cold. One of the reasons we got a place upstate is that I love to garden.  But although it's nearly April, the ground is still hard as a rock and you can't even rake without a blow torch because the leaves are frozen to the ground. Still we played in the garden.  Why? Because my man is British and manly and I am determined to be tough and was also hoping to see evidence of crocus -- or anything -- coming up. Hugo was not as enthused by the wilderness as you can see in this short vid. Thanks for reading and watching Internet pals. Until tomorrow, I remain, me Posted Mar 24 2008, 11:06 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, borsht belt, catskills, gardening

• The Not-So-Great Outdoors

  That's Hugo at a beautiful playground you've never been to. Now here's video, followed by some thrilling info about this stunning locale.   This playground is in West New York, a town whose name betrays the fact that it dearly wishes it wasn't in New Jersey. The playground is awesome, although when we were there it only had a few teens loitering, boys and girls lying on the ground next to the swings, insulting and punching each other ever so happily. Oh and a guy came in look like he wanted to do something shady, but saw the security guard there and shoved off. West New York has amazing views. But it also currently has a guy who's assaulting women at gunpoint, which sounds bad until you remember the guy who killed a woman and left her in a dumpster.  But West New York isn't all bad. Besides the sex fiends and the murderers it also has great views and smells like exhaust 24/6.  Not 24/7 because it honestly abates a bit on Sunday.* The best part about living in this part of New Jersey?  Even though you're a stone's throw from Manhattan, you never have to worry anyone will drop by unexpectedly, or ever.  Think of the money we save on guest towels.  Why it almost makes up for living in social Siberia!  All the best, Interweb friends, and kisses to you. Next time I'll have pics and photos from a weekend in the truly great outdoors --  the Catskills . Until then, I remain, Susie  *Note to shocked British relatives: I am exaggerating for comic effect.  We do not live in a crime-ridden hell hole.  It does, however, smell.  It's actually a New Jersey law that all towns and cities must smell bad.**  **OK that thing about the smelly town law is not true, but it sure seems like it could be. Posted Mar 21 2008, 11:42 PM by Susie Felber with | with no comments Filed under: baby, weehawken, louisa park, playground, west new york, murder, assaults

• Happy Crying At My Desk Anniversary

  Here is Hugo a year ago. And one year ago this week, I returned to work full time after a desperately awful maternity leave.  My leave was in the dark of winter, in Weehawken, NJ (where I knew no one), with all of my time spent trying to breastfeed and simultaneously heal a raging infection that had developed on my c-section. Nurses visited the house regularly to tend the gash where Hugo was untimely ripped and to teach my husband how to clean and pack my gaping wound with a boatload of saline-coated gauze.  How he's not gay at this point is a marvel to me.  Anyway, besides an out of the box difficult medical recovery, I also had to find childcare.  Ah childcare! See, I didn't know anything about childcare before having a child.  I thought it might be affordable -- Ha!  I thought I might find and be able to get a legal competent nanny -- ho ho ho!  Barring that, I thought daycare facilities wouldn't blatantly break the law by not abiding by state-mandated ratios.  Financially, I couldn't afford to work and I couldn't afford not to work.  Even if money were no object, I didn't want to miss the best show of my life working and commuting, but I didn't want to stay home full time and not get to do what I love.  I interviewed a slew of nannies I wouldn't leave my betta with, let alone my baby.  I slipped into a funk to put it entirely too mildly.    And I can tell the rest this drama-laden story another time -- about the incompetent nanny, the only seeing Hugo for two hours a day, and yes, the regular sobbing at my desk.  The day I got clearance to work from home was one of the best days of my life -- without the commute I could take Hugo to a fabulous accredited school that is 100X cheaper than Manhattan daycare or an illegal nanny.  And without the commute I actually get to see him.  And I'm cutting down traffic congestion.  My vacation was cut, my salary has been stagnant and yet I work harder than ever to prove myself to keep the work/life situation and to make it better for the next mom or dad with a babe.  Oh but it took months.  And it took hard work, and yes, prayer, at least to keep my eyes on the prize.  Oh and it also took the work and kindness of wonderful people at my wonderful job who were willing to work with me to find a mutually beneficial solution.  I recently revisted and took a video of the nicest daycare facility I visited during that dark time...the daycare you see here is in a  windowless dank basement and after you see their outdoor area, you may be able to imagine what the bad places were like.     Thanks for listening Internet.  I heart you. xoxo, Susie  Posted Mar 20 2008, 10:40 PM by Susie Felber with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: baby, telecommute, daycare, post partum depression, nanny, maternity leave

• What Happens at Playdate Stays at Playdate

  ...until now.  Watch this shocking video to witness boys gone wild -- there's nothing these piano bashing, animal worshipping, lamp freaks won't do!   If I sound slightly crazed in this video, it's because, #1 I still have the cold from hell and attempted to be super perky in spite of it, and #2 I am genuinely psyched when S. and her boy Finnegan come over for our dinner (This week Trader Joe's frozen spinach pizza, peas and fresh mango) and hang out. It brightens my rather solitary work and it's fun to watch the babes slowly start to interact. The weekly nature of the meeting makes their blooming friendship unfold much like neat-o stop action photography. S. is a working writer and a dang good one. In her past she was a performer as well. It's amazing to me that although we live on the same block, if we hadn't had kids born within a fortnight of one another, we ne'er would've met.  Certainly we wouldn't have taken the time to become friends. We are two strangers thrown together thanks to the bootcamp of babydom. But we've a lot in common. Isn't that lucky? Actually, I think it's more than luck, but I will leave it at that and not talk about how I think these things "happen for a reason" for fear I might scare you off with my flakey hoodoo voodoo. Later Internet Super Friends! Check back tomorrow for a video PLUS some stunning photos of excitement. xoxo, Susie Posted Mar 18 2008, 10:42 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, fnnegan, playdates, karma

• It's a Pity Party & You're All Invited

  Last night our friend Rose visited.  It was awesome, and not just because I don't get out anymore and few brave souls venture to the sunny shores of Weehawken.  Rose works in London now as an editor and writer.  She's brilliant, fun and so well-balanced.  Most people are either performer types (yappy drama queens) or audience types (wise listeners) and I love both.  But Rose is rare in that she can give as well as she takes.  I should've taken some video of her.  Her fault for being too interesting.  Oh, and she'd just come from interviewing Elizabeth Gilbert.  If that means something to you, awesome, if not, move on.  Wait, wasn't this post about something not nice?  Oh yeah.     Today = sucky to the nth degree. I can't start complaining because I fear I would not be able to stop.  OK, see?  I just deleted a whole lot of my starting to kvetch.  No, forget it -- I rarely share. And the weight of never sharing is dragging me down.  I am going to tell you that I had so much work today, I thought I was going to vomit.  It wasn't hard work. And I like what I do.  But it was fiddly, riddled wth technical snags and there was simply too much.  My husband had written me a sweet email about how quiet I'd been today and I wrote him a stunned, no caps response that told him I had had so much work I felt ill.  He kindly called me and told me to breathe, relax, etc.  He's a good one, he is.   Then [REDACTED] called me from [REDACTED HOSPITAL] to chat about [REDACTED MEDICAL CONDITION BECAUSE IT'S A SECRET -- ONE THAT IS SURELY GOING TO KILL ME AS THIS FOUR-YEAR SECRET HAS ALREADY TURNED MY BRAIN TO CHEESE] but I was so busy I totally rushed the call and blew them off.  So then the work wasn't finishing and I need to pick up my baby from daycare (it's a great place but will I ever be OK with the word?) and then it occurs to me that I need to go to the bathroom, but I decide, no -- I've no time to go.  When I realized that I'm not helping humanity, I'm not helping [REDACTED], I'm not near most of my friends or family and I've had a lot of "no time to go to the bathroom" days, I found myself on a rare hysterical crying jag asking myself a mantra of, "Why?  What am I doing?  What am I doing?"  Lotsa fun.  What did I do?  Well, unlike in "EAT, PRAY, LOVE" the almighty didn't speak to me.  And unlike her, my husband is the only thing I know I don't want to quit.  So I went back to work.  And I just did what I could.  And I picked up the babe a hair late, and I was OK.      OK as in I am probably more fragile as I'm still sick with a massive cold that must have been sent my Ming the Merciless.  Actually, I know who I got the cold from -- the babe, again.  What is he trying to do?  Kill off the host?  Seriously, he can't work my debit card yet.  What is he thinking? And so here is the snotty scamp today during our time before bath and bed.  It was a balm for my soul.  As I currently can't breathe through my nose, his teasing me with the tissues was rather cruel, no?         Well, I've got to rest up for another drive child to daycare, followed by another dentist appointment followed by a whole lotta work... etc. TTFN & I promise I'll try to do less complainy posts from now on. Posted Mar 13 2008, 09:39 PM by Susie Felber with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: baby, telecommute, work, elzabeth gilbert, tmi, tissues, eat pray love, pity party

• The Dog Stays in the Picture

  If our mutt Stan could've gone to college, even a crappy one, I never would've had a child.  Of that I'm sure.  I can not express how much I love this animal.  He's everything I every dreamed of in a dog.  He's a couch potato, who is nonetheless always up to play.  He actually returns a ball when you play fetch (something our childhood dogs never saw the point in) and he learned tricks worthy of Ringling Bros.  Not to brag, but to brag, my dog actually falls to the floor after you shoot him with your finger.  And so my mother's comment -- when she was asked about the trials of taking care of a German Shepherd and her three children -- "we had the kids for the dog" -- makes total sense to me.  Here is Hugo enjoying the furry friend who, in some way, begat him.  Posted Mar 12 2008, 11:20 PM by Susie Felber with | with no comments Filed under: video, baby, dog

• Peekaboo Peekabrag

  Sometimes, like tonight, when I've only just finished my day job work at 10PM and I've a sink full of dirty dishes and I'm still so sick my nose is naught but an ornamental fountain, I wonder what all the effort is for.  Luckily, I've this grainy video of immense cuteness to remind me. Go ahead, scoff if you want.  It's OK.  I won't hear you over the dishes.      Posted Mar 11 2008, 10:48 PM by Susie Felber with | with no comments Filed under: baby, kvelling, colds that are worse than Hitler, day job, dinner, peekaboo