BilikFamily.com

Catch the latest updates at the new site: bilik.family.

This site contains the archives from late 2000 until Autumn 2013, just a few months prior to Michelle's passing. I tried to use one of the more graphical and paid for services for a while with SquareSpace, but it just wasn't me. I don't like to Do Everything In A Browser. This site was maintained for years using MovableType, a popular system around the early 2000's. The more recent bilik.family uses a newer popular static site generator called Hugo.

Yawn! Good mornin'! Can't I sleep another hour? After work yesterday I went to Golds Gym and then an Opus Dei Circle. By the time I got home Michelle and the boys were in bed, but the girls were just arriving from a shopping trip at Kohls. Claire bought a dress for homecoming. I'm not sure if Abby got anything, but Abby and Kohls were meant for each other.

Today is my baby's 18th birthday. My lil' Claire. Claire Marie. A legal adult. When she came home from the hospital she was just barely over five pounds. I felt like I was carrying a bag flour. She's still the "runt" of the family, so to speak, but so full of spunk, generosity, and initiative. Concentrated awesome, as I'd joked earlier.

For some reason this morning I was thinking of my late mother and her reaction to Claire's birth. She was upset that I called to let her know of the birth in the afternoon after the delivery as I was about to leave the hospital parking lot. I hadn't let her know "we were goin' in!" I didn't want to trouble her and it was a fast delivery. But mom wanted time to fret and pray. She wanted the anticipation of breaking the news that "Michelle is going into labor" to her friends. When Abby was weeks from being born, my mother reminded me: "Now you tell me when you're going in this time!"

Use of the verb "fret" reminds me of one of my favorite young Claire stories. When she had learned to talk, after several months we were trying to break her of the habit of always saying "I want" and replace it with something like "May I [...] please"

So one morning she was anxious about something. I have no recollection what it was, but something small was bothering her a bit. I'd said something like, "oh Claire, it'll work out. Don't fret". To which she replied, "But I want to fret..." "I mean, may I fret please?" I'm not even sure she knew the word "fret" but inside I was laughing so hard.

Enjoy this Jan 2001 photo of a five year old Claire in the hospital holding a newborn brother. Sorry to say I don't know which of the twins it was. It was really difficult back then.

Welcome to August »

Michelle tolerating GDC-0068 well. Timothy finishes 'The Lost Hero'. I read 'Strange Gods'. Family at Hampton Beach. Lunch at Kimball Farms. NHTI Open House. Dr. Who: The Curse of Fenric. (702 words)

Summer Vacations »

New clinical trial. Visit by Will. Kids visit the Midwest. Birthday. Michelle and Claire in Freedom, NH. Michelle's sister is visiting. SSD replacement. C++ study. Chromebook experiences. (968 words)

Try, Try Again »

Early morning visit to MGH for another protocol. Last day of school for the kids. Tim starts "The Lightning Thief". I finished "The Second Ship". Google Hangout with SneekyLinux. (977 words)

Work from Home »

Timothy's orthopedic visit. Pearl's annual inspection. Wheel bearing replacement. Lunch at Cafe on the Oval. Lots of reviews of the SnapDragon 800 coming in. Bing search bias for the new Xbox. (929 words)

Father's Day Weekend »

YMCA. Home Depot. A and E. Confession. Chili's. 7am Sunday Mass. Father's Day breakfast at Cafe on the Oval. "Oz the Great and Powerful". Mailbox repair. MacBook tuning. (964 words)