journal features

the evening shift

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2009.02.05

We've developed a routine for dealing with the complexities of getting Ken fed, bathed and into bed. It goes like this:

~18:00 I stop whatever I'm doing and come out to the living room to take care of Kenny while Mari makes dinner. Typically, I play with him, read to him, show him some nature videos, and generally spend "quality time". Mari makes "quality dinner". Without fail. I don't know how.

~18:40 We eat. I'll have set up the high chair with its spray mat, and I'll have filled the bathtub with hot water.

19:00 I tell Kenny, "Five minutes. Washing our hair in five minutes." and go hop in the shower.

19:10 Mari brings Kenny to me, and I bathe him.

19:45 Mari puts Kenny to bed. I do the dishes and get back to work.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering