tfl: The Flatiron Life

Radley Balko points out

New Zealand legalizes prostitution, and all hell doesn’t break loose. In fact (contrary to the headline), it looks as if the country’s sex trade got a little better for the people who practice it. Their numbers stayed about the same.

It turns out Kiwi prostitutes get into and stay in the sex trade for the same reasons I got into and stay at my job.

Around 93 per cent of sex workers cited money as the reason for getting into and staying in the sex industry.

“The most significant barriers to exiting are loss of income, reluctance to lose the flexible working hours available in the sex industry and the camaraderie and sense of belonging that some sex workers describe.”

IMG_0550

Originally uploaded by flatiron32

Last week Jonah started sitting by himself. Well, sitting by himself just long enough for me to snap a picture after I’ve arranged his legs just right and encouraged him to pitch forward a little bit. Sorry about the Purdugatory shirt, it was a gift from more philistine family and this was a laundry day.

At Jonah’s weigh in earlier this week he was just 14 lbs. 15 oz and 25 1/4 inches long. Last month Jonah’s pediatrician was a little concerned that he had dropped from the 50th to the 10th percentile for both height and weight. He seems not to be dropping any further, so I’m not too worried. Jonah consistently hits his milestones early and he’s content between feedings, so I think he might end up with my small frame. However, the doctor said to pump him with calories whenever possible and to add butter to his vegetables and cereal.

I would like to get on the diet plan where the doctor recommends I slather my food with butter.

A long running theme here is the (lack of) markets for blood and body parts.

Alex Tabarrok points out:

In order to give blood donors a break from gas prices, the Red Cross [in Greensboro, NC. AT] is entering all volunteer blood donors, who give blood between June 1, 2008 and June 30, 2008, into a drawing for one of two $750 gas cards.

Blood probably has a higher market clearing price than the chance to win a $750 gas card plus the good feeling the donor gets, but this is a step in the right direction.

Netflix is now offering a set top box for viewing movies over the net. It costs $100 and any movie in your queue that is also available to watch instantly on you PC can be seen through the box. Watching these movies do not cost anything more a month or cost anything per movie.

$100 is pretty cheap, but I am a little worried about being an early adopter and having a crappy box while the rest of the world has better and better boxes.

What are your thoughts?

Joscelynn and I returned late last night from Jamaica. It was a great trip. Robert and Kavitha were successfully wedded.

We have been to Indiana today to reunite with our growing boy. Jonah had a great time at his grandma’s house.

After this great start to the season, the whole Tomaw family is ready to have a great summer.

Pictures from Jamaica will be coming soon.

Jos Frontal Swelling

Originally uploaded by flatiron32

Our flight for Jamaica leaves at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow! I’ve purchased a large, probably ridiculous hat. Why? Because this is what happened the last time I was bold enough to expose my face to tropical sun. Do you need further proof that my skin was not made for this cruel world? It’s funny now, but never again.

We’re looking forward to watching our good friends, Rob and Kavitha, exchange their vows. Jonah is packed for Grandma’s house. This mama is already experiencing a little separation anxiety, but also looking forward to a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. I’m sure we’ll have lots of great photos to share when we return.

The California Gay Marriage decision seems like something I might care about. However as I told Joscelynn last week, I am tired of caring about this issue; it is just such a waste of resources.

Today, while in a meeting, I read Josh Claybourn’s thoughts and was please to find this is another issue where C.S. Lewis has already written my thoughts.

There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage: one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members. The distinction ought to be quite sharp, so that a man knows which couples are married in a Christian sense and which are not.

The more I think about it the more it disturbs me off that non-Christians gallivant around with the same tokens and respect of marriage that Jos and I have. It does not bother me that they are married, it is that I don’t know if God plays the role in the relationship that he does in mine.

I don’t know if you heard, but the streets are safe, clean, and well maintained through out the PRChi. The City managed school district is churning out well educated young citizens. The government operates with an efficiency never seen in government before. So, on to more important issues.

This weeks This American Life explains the Sub-Prime Mortgage/Credit Crisis very well. When the crisis is explained clearly without any blame being laid, it is actually really easy to understand. I feel like I have a much better since of what happened and a bit more of why.

It really shows why, despite what the FED might try to do, the market (i.e. all of us) lacks faith in the banks right now.

So you may have noticed that the last few weeks, if not the last few months have been a little light on the blogging. For good reason. Here’s an update on the insanity that has been the Tomaw household. . .

Teeth - While not exactly a schedule filling event, I know eager friends and family will be interested to know that little Jonah has sprouted his first two teeth. He was really not terribly happy about it at first, but I think he’s starting to get used to teeth. He holds his mouth a little differently now and puts his fingers in to touch his new chompers.

We’ve also started Jonah on rice cereal. It’s a delicate process, only going well if Jonah is hungry, but not so hungry he just wants to nurse and tired enough that he doesn’t resent sitting still, but not so tired he needs to take a nap. When it all comes together in a perfect feeding, he eats an entire bowl of cereal. When the feeding forces are against us, the meltdown starts after just a few spoonfuls. Regardless of whether it’s a good feed or a bad feed, there is usually one successful swallow for every three spoonfuls wiped up off the little guy’s chin. . . or hands. . .or hairline. . . or thighs.

Baptism- As Jacob mentioned, Jonah was baptized two weeks ago. It was a beautiful and meaningful service. Jacob and I believe the church is a vital and influential community in the life of a child. We feel very blessed to know that present at Jonah’s baptism were grandparents, god parents, and church family that will take very seriously the commitment they made to guide Jonah in his faith.

Moving- Well, we’re still searching for a permanent home for a good portion of our belongings, but we’re no longer tripping over boxes. We are very happy with our new neighborhood and our extra bedroom. With room to prowl and carpet to roll on, George is acting more like a normal cat. We’re still sleeping on an air mattress, but that should change this week.

Moving is such an unsettling thing. (I guess that sounds silly. It is probably literally the unsettling thing.) You never realize how natural living in your home has become until you move to a new one and are forced to adopt an entire new set of motor patterns.

Mystery Allergy- At the age of 27 it appears I have developed an allergy manifesting itself in the form of a rash. Now that I’ve typed that, it sounds like an understatement. For a while it was like my legs were on fire. Two emergency rooms, two dermatologists, one general practitioner, seven medications, one biopsy, and two and a half weeks later, the rash has healed, although I will need to follow up with the last dermatologist before I find out what gave me the black death. Very frustrating and very bad timing.

Graduation- This past week was my final final finals week. Forever. (I think.) It has been an inspiring, but project intensive quarter. When I was working full time and going to school, I thought I was pretty good at juggling a full schedule. Mothering and going to school is way way harder.

At last I’ve graduated with my MBA, qualifying me to use terms like leverage and synergy and invoke the proverbial thirty thousand foot view. It feels good.

Thank you to everyone who shared the highs and lows of the last few weeks with us, especially those of you who helped with Jonah while Jacob was out of town. We are a very fortunate family indeed. We are looking forward to a delightfully lazy summer, catching our breath and enjoying all that our new neighborhood and Chicago have to offer. We wish you all an equally rejuvenating summer and hope to be blogging more regularly over the next few months.