tance has ever come from her "dainty flower."
Secondly, I really don't like placentas!
Third, one of our devoted fans actually wrote a speech about us for her speech class, and was aggravated that I didn't use any of the quotes, so HERE:
"He deserves paradise who can make his companions laugh" The Koran, if you believe that then these three comic geniuses deserve a spot in sainthood!
(And thank you!)
So I'm finally naked again, Three days late for getting in my journal. It is late afternoon on our last Friday in Phoenix till next year. I want to apologize for being late (No ANDY, not to you, to our devoted readers!) I've been really distracted by life recently, and have actually spent more time staring at my baby daughter than working on this journal.
And we HAVE been busy too!
Scarlett does take up quite a bit of time... she's so immature and demanding... and seems to think the whole damned world revolves around her... (And so do I) Heather and I seem to have a pretty good system worked out. And even Uncle Jef and Uncle Riki are helping out a bit... by covering some of the morning meetings and business events. Though now that I think about it, man I'd LOVE to watch Riki change a diaper!
We take our baby pretty much everywhere... things sure have changed from the good-ol' days when you could leave your child in the hot car and run into the strip club for a few hours... including on a shopping trip to the Phoenix RV show. I looked good, so did Heather. Scarlett was a dream, the stroller that Riki helped buy (did I mention the awesome baby showers) worked like a charm... the only disappointment was the RV show itself. I'm spoiled by the one I attended in Florida (and bought our current trailer at). Eventually my ever-burgeoning family is going to need a bigger house!
 Starting with the star |
 Suave MOFO at the RV show |
 At the wedding - sort of |
 An irony of clothing (Tshirt reads "Tax Deduction") |
We attended a wedding (sort of) of very dear friends... We drove two hours to Tucson, where the wedding was held, arrived on time, but were delayed in getting inside due to baby preparations. But that was the least of it; we locked our keys in the car too. Because of the delay, there were no seats, Scarlett was fussing anyway, needing to be fed, so Heather spent (pretty much) the whole time in the Ladies room; I was on the phone with AAA. After the wedding was what looked like a GREAT reception, but it was also over booked, the only seats were up a huge flight of stairs, and the dinner was outside it what turned out to be quite cold weather, so we took ourselves, our tiny, cold baby, and made the two hour trek back home... I did manage to get one shot of the bride and groom, and we left a swell gift too!
We also attended a cook-out at the jouster camp, everybody "ooh-ed" and "ahh-ed" at Scarlett when she arrived, whips were cracked, Heather's corn casserole was (once again) a hit... and I had a very serious talk with my daughter as soon as we arrived. "Scarlett, this is JOUST CAMP, and you're NEVER allowed here without me!"
Scarlett got her first and second letters, the second one even provided some ironic giggles as inside was her very own Social Security card... and look what 'onesie' she just happened to be wearing at the time!
Every year Heather and I make a list of things we're going to do, and often don't get around to. The list is different for each state/city/fair that we're at. Don't get me wrong, we also accomplish a lot of the things on the list as well, but several trips seem to get postponed each year... so we decided to work on that a bit. We took ourselves and our super-travelling baby to the big crack known as the Grand Canyon!
Our grand canyon trip
And believe me, whatever it cost, it was worth it! Huge suite, lovely view, huge hot tub... and daddy and daughter kickin' back and enjoying the relaxation... Heather's whole plan was to spoil ourselves for once, and we certainly did. We ordered simply wonderful room service (check out the dessert in the upper right corner!) we took bubble baths, watched geographic channel... The next morning we hiked around the rim, tried out the Snuggly baby-carrier, and just enjoyed being tourists... I also discovered this interesting sign in the lower right corner at the gas station we coasted into... on fumes... hehehe!
Also during this trip I proved that I was still a rock-star, rebel, wild man... by perching on the rim wall with my tiny defenseless daughter.
We have been entertaining "in" more than "out": we've had a couple of swell cook outs with strippers, and yoyo artists, booth owners and fairies and artists and fair security, whip cracking beauties, Australians, ... and the ever-popular Jack Akers... Dear friends all!
...and let's take another look at my daughter!
 Risking my new baby's life |
 Dinner with good friends |
 Taking a baby break |
...and again, let's look at OUR daughter! I think she looks smart too, don't you?
 Breakfast with the gang |
 Scarlett the thinker |
 Drum employees dinner |
We managed to have a swell dinner out with all of our drum employees. Taking our crew of hippies, vegetarians, and dreddies to Bucca, the family style Italian restaurant. Pasta, cocktails, wine, and good company to be sure, then it was back home to get our house (and heads) ready for the impending visit of...
NANNY!!!
(Insert ominous music here)
My mother is now a grandmother TEN TIMES OVER! But she's gone just a little giddy over my daughter... and a tad scary too. She flew my two favorite nieces out to Vegas, for Beverly's 21st birthday, and the whole crew stopped here in Phoenix on the way back to meet my baby.
Mom was overwhelmed, but at least she didn't completely break down at the Denny's (I go to Denny's a lot), and the girls, Beverly and Brianne, were also pretty impressed with the newest addition to the Bauman Clan. We also made sure that we dressed Scarlett, appropriately for her first meeting with her grandmother - her little punk outfit with a leopard print and a big black skull; only because I hadn't yet purchased the black outfit that says "All mommy wanted was a backrub."
 Nana meets her newest grandbaby |
 My favorite nieces |
 Punk baby! |
Our tombstone trip
 Andy, where are YOUR tattooed fans? |
And finally last night, was our AZ meet and greet, once again well attended and sparklingly run by chapter head Cindy. We had planned to bowl, since we have been having so much fun with that lately, only to discover that the Gameworks doesn't have a bowling alley! Still there was drinking, and baby stories, drinking, and gifts (thanks from Scarlett!), drinking and wings, and drinking. I'm glad I wasn't driving home!
While you're at it check out this stunning tattoo! Funny I've never seen a Zoltan Tattoo! Â [That's 'cause, unlike me, you've never seen a Zoltan fan naked... - AB]
 Click for Video |
Well folks, that will about wrap up tonight's journal... Heather will proof read this for me and then It goes off to Andy... I want to leave you with one, final, disappointing thing... as we were riding in the car on the way to Tombstone, my sweet lovely nieces started signing what was obviously a well rehearsed, well loved, song from their favorite Renaissance festival show. It would have been so wonderful if only it had been us - here's a video of my nieces singing an excerpt from Hey! Nunnie Nunnie!
