Even though a couple of people have asked me to, I'm not going to use this opportunity to blog about the birth of our daughter, Mara Vivienne Tarnoff, who was born Monday afternoon. Some things are a little too private for OnMilwaukee.com (and our thoughtful Talkbackers), so I'll just leave it at this: Mara is doing great and so is her mom. I've changed three diapers, and it's not as bad as I expected.
What I will say is that, so far, three events that would normally have me on the edge of my seat, have come and gone without so much as a second thought this week. I didn't catch a single snap of the Packers-Vikings game on Monday. I haven't seen a highlight, either, and while I, like the rest of Wisconsin, wants to see how Aaron Rodgers will handle the pressure, on Monday night, it didn't even cross my mind. In fact, I still haven't thought about it.
I also skipped the Brewers game on Monday night, and though I had it on the TV from our hospital room last night, I could barely pay attention. I went to bed with the game tied in extra innings - something I would never do under pre-baby circumstances - and only checked the score when a little person woke me up at 2 a.m.
Again, I kinda didn't care. And that's saying something huge, as I'm a rabid Brewers fan. Mara, will, however, leave the hospital wearing Brewers socks (thanks, Velia's co-workers).
Finally, I'm skipping the second week of the bowling season tonight, despite the hilarious, drunken pleas from my teammates last Wednesday: "Dude! You've gotta continue to live your life!"
Yeah, I know, but the baby is only 3 days old.
Anyway, I'll be back on the sports horse soon, but for now, I'm soaking in this incredible, awe-inspiring experience. The Brewers, Packers and bowling will be there when we get home. I'm sorry to ignore you, my beloved teams. But this time, I'm pretty sure I don't owe you an apology.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
