Sometimes I think my act would do best on the Blue Collar Comedy circuit.

Can't you see it--Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy, and yours truly--all crammed into one bus driven by my dear old dad?

But then again.

5 days old.

Forgive me if all I write about is baby stuff lately.  I can't resist.  There is music news to report, but another day for that.

Back to baby.

Li'l Stevie's personality continues to unfold.  She loves taking baths and sleeping on our chests.  Her eyes are gaining focus.  She nurses often and for long periods and then, suddenly, falls off the bar stool of Hana's bosom and sleeps.  She likes classical music.

Since arriving home, our community has showered us with gifts.  Here's what our friends Janet & Frank Sucha just dropped off:

Farm eggs, apple cider, venison stew, plum jam, and pumpernickel bread.

From others we've been given cards, quiches, silk & fleece blankets, blueberries, water toys, stuffed cabbage rolls, homemade apple pie, sparkling cider, orchids, myrrh, books, floral essences, warm hats, pistachios, almond soap, kimchi, rice cakes, prunes, roses, crystals, acupuncture, lamb stew, bananas, sweetgrass, onesies, oils & lotions, grapes, chiropractic adjustments, carnations, dolls, counseling sessions, apples, tulips, chocolate, dresses, money, and more--not to mention copious amounts of time, energy, and love from my mother, Mary Herak Sand, who has been staying with us for the last two weeks.

Our downstairs neighbor, Evie, has been a fantastic support as well.  She keeps her spare bedroom open to our guests and often takes care of Gilda.  She shares her clothes dryer and TV for football games and political debates.  She also baked a chocolate cake and brought us flowers!

Having a baby is a humbling and delicious experience.

State of the Baby's First Week Address

Grandmas, Grandpas, Auntie Tala, distinguished guests, and fellow World Citizens:

I'm happy to report that my daughter--former Ambassador to Terabithia--Madame Stevie, is thriving!

I'd refrained from mentioning this, but Stevie's first five days outside the womb were spent at Community Medical Center due to Hana's unexpected high blood pressure. On Sunday, however, mother and baby were released with flying colors.

Having Stevie in our apartment has been a delight.  Grandma Mary has been taking the night shift to allow Hana and me to catch up on sleep, so our days have been active and cheery.

Yesterday we decided to give Stevie a second middle name, Angela, which was my great-grandmother Herak's name.  She is now Stevie Angela Kasm Sand.  I like this.

Now, more on the back story . . .

On January 17th, our midwife Sandhano encouraged us to let go of our home birth plan and have labor induced at the hospital.  We checked in at 2 p.m.  By 2:30 p.m. a quiet snowfall began and continued steadily for four days.  About an hour before midnight, Hana pushed fiercely and firmly, our li'l snow angel's head crowned, and we welcomed our daughter into the world.

Five days later, we bid farewell to the friendly nurses, blinking hospital lights, and painful IV needles. As we drove home through streets piled high with snow, the sun reappeared, making the mountains especially bright and beautiful.  

The front page of the Sunday Missoulian featured a picture of a majestic snowy owl.  Parliaments, aye blizzards, of them, have purportedly been gracing the area of late!  I'd love to think they brought our cherub with them, or, better yet, that she is one.

In my heart she is . . . Stevie the Snowy Owlet. 

Birdgirl of the North.

Yesterday, as you may know, Hana and I finally chose an official name for our four-day old wunderkind, Stevie Kasm Sand.   We'd fancied this name for months, but wanted to see if her personality matched.  It does, we think!

Maestra Stevie Kasm Sand.

If I had to choose one adjective to describe Stevie, it would be "cool."  Cool as in far out.  Or maybe "wild," like wild at heart.  

She loves closeness and kisses.

She has very expressive arms and fingers that she waves about like a wrinkled conductress or wizardly ballerina.

She's beautiful.  She's cool.  She's wild.

She's our sweet little alien child.

Mmmmmmmmm . . .

Stevie.

Guess what!  Our baby is a 7.4 lb, 20", glorious girl!!!!!!

Born tonight - 1/17/2012, 10:52 p.m.

Capricorn (same as me).

Year of the Rabbit (same as Hana).

People I admire who were born on this date include Muhammad Ali, Betty White, Michelle Obama, Benjamin Franklin, Eartha Kitt, and Steve Earle.

Our daughter's name is still undecided.

In sum:
Hana was amazing.  Baby is incredible.  I'm in love.  

More soon!

Our midwife, FYI, thinks we're having a boy.  She predicts this because Hana has a mild rash on her skin, supposedly caused by the baby's testosterone.

Funky.

I just added another unusual item to my "MERCH" page: Marijuana Bracelet (+ Unicorn Lighter & Utopia by Sir Thomas More).

Hana made the above bracelet by stringing 19 sterling silver-&-turquoise cannabis charms along a chain. 

Each leaf is stamped "sterling" on the back and comes from the Neuens' Western Shop in Bismarck, ND. The owners--my relatives-- were unaware of the hippy symbolism and sold them as maple leaf charms at $10 each.

As Hana and I await our new arrival, I've continued to organize boxes and let go of my odd collections of this 'n' that.  Some I throw away, some I give away, and some I sell.  I'm having fun with the latter project.

Yesterday I sold a cat skull (with bird nest) for $30.

Sold within five minutes of listing!

In its place I listed a beaver skull (with bird nest) for the same amount.  

I'll let you know how that goes.

My website's "MERCH" link should actually say "YARD SALE."  Click it to see why!

I've begun to sell quirky "stuff" online in the same manner I do at shows: in bundles.  Today it was all about cassettes tapes. (Update: all three cassette bundles I put up last night sold this morning, so you won't see them.  More coming!)

Last week it was trucker and cowboy collectibles.

My prices are fairly high, but I think worth it.  If nothing else, folks will notice how affordable my CDs are!