What's the word for...?

Is there a word for being compelled to do something that would sound ridiculous to someone else? That’s what I’m feeling.

It's Friday night, and I'm working late, on my last day of work!

I'm working to document the web site that I've been working on for the last few months, that I only just deployed yesterday. And now the server that runs that site is down for maintenance. So I'll have to use my local install of my site on my laptop to help me write. (Before I delete all the code that belongs to my former employer from my machine.)

And the wiki server on which I would post my documentation is also down for maintenance. So I'll have to email it to a co-worker--technically now a former co-worker.

And my card-key stopped working. So I packed up my stuff and left before there was no one around to let me back in.

So I'm now at a coffee shop writing away, for my now former employer, on a Friday night.

Sounds ridiculous, eh? But I'm compelled to do it. I just can't bear the thought of people using my site and being confused or (worse) deciding it's of no use to them.

So I'll get back to work.

Unconditional Love

I just listened to another excellent episode of This American Life. In Act Two, "Dave Royko talks about the decision he and his wife faced about their autustic son's future..." which got me thinking about our short-lived fears about Henry.

It's been only a little over a month since I wrote "The flood gates are opening", and those gates have been opening ever wider since. We've lost count of how many words Henry uses on his own (and he will repeat very many other words after hearing Claire or I, or even Elleda or Gabe say it). And he has begun to say a few two-word sentences, like "Bye-bye Mama" or "Hi Dada".

We are so very lucky.

The flood gates are opening

You may be aware that Claire and I have been concerned that Henry hasn't started talking. Well, I guess we don't have to worry about that anymore. (We'll have to find something else to worry about.) In less than one week, he has said these words for the first time:

• bye-bye
• please
• hot
• up
• open
• car
• why (he was imitating Gabe when he said that one)

I'm sure I've forgotten a few.

Claire and I can't get over how cute he sounds. He's always been a babbler, but it's lovely to hear him say real words.