Stowaway on George's Rocket

George's rocket,
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

The Roach Family visited the Children's Museum of Indianapolis on Saturday night. It was the free Ball State Alumni Association night at the museum. Parker loved the Curious George themed exhibit, Let's Get Curious, which we'd been meaning to go see since it opened. This picture is of him in George's rocket from Curious George gets a Medal. They had a stationary digital camera set up that would take a picture looking up at the port hole that you could e-mail to yourself. We got to slide down the big slide in the atrium too, which was a treat because we thought we had missed that after Christmas. The next featured exhibit is Comic Book Heroes. I'm not sure who's more excited, Parker or his Dad!

Africa Celebrates U2

I just ran across this on Amazon.com. On April 1, 2008, Shout! Factory records will release "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2." It's a U2 tribute album featuring covers African artists. It's kind of a "Thank you" to Bono and the band for the philanthropic and humanitarian relief work they've done, such as the launch of the ONE campaign and (RED), and Bono's "poignant outspoken public commentary on the immediate financial needs facing Africa."

Here's the press release from the record label.

I can't really say I've even been a fan of "world music" as a generic genre. Bloomington host the renowned Lotus World Music and Arts Festival every fall, but I've never been to more than a couple of the free events. I do enjoy western folk music and Celtic music and what is world music if it's not traditional or folk music from somewhere other than the western world. This compilation includes trance, blues, dub, a cappella and Afrobeat influenced tracks. I might have to check it out. Also, a portion of the record's proceeds will benefit The Global Fund, an international organization that works in 136 countries across the world to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Here's the track list:

1. Angelique Kidjo “Mysterious Ways"
2. Vieux Farka Toure “Bullet The Blue Sky"
3. Ba Cissoko “Sunday Bloody Sunday"
4. Vusi Mahlasela “Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
5. Tony Allen “Where The Streets Have No Name"
6. Cheikh Lo “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
7. Keziah Jones “One"
8. Les Nubians “With Or Without You"
9. Soweto Gospel Choir “Pride (In The Name Of Love)"
10. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, with Joe Perry “Seconds"
11. African Underground All-Stars Featuring Chosan, Optimus & Iyoka “Desire"
12. Waldemar Bastos “Love Is Blindness"

Welcome to the world, Elizabeth Anne Popovitz

Congratulations are in order for Wendy and Brian Popovitz. Wendy gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on February 18th, Elizabeth Anne Popovitz. She weighed in at 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 inches long. Mother and daughter are home and Dad is "referee in the three ring circus at home with the two boys." Matthew and Timothy are now both big brothers. Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

Something must be in the water. That's the 5th Roach Family Blog birth announcement since December!

Obama in Indiana!

Barack Obama was in Plainfield Indiana om Saturday. Cathy tried to get us tickets but they were snatched up pretty quickly. We would have loved to have been there to hear Senator Obama speak to Hoosier voters. Especially considering that this is the first presidential primary that, for all practical purposes, has meant anything in Indiana since we've been old enough to vote. Seven long weeks until May 6th.

Welcome to the world, Samantha Violet Johnson

Congratulations are in order for Greg and April Johnson. April gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on Saturday, Samantha Violet Johnson. She was born at 5:55 AM, weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces and is 19 3/4 inches long. We hear that mother and daughter are both doing well. Happy Birthday Samantha!

Geekfest 2008

Lots of good movies coming out. Anybody have a babysitter they'd recommend?

The Incredible Hulk - Exclusive Trailer

Iron Man - Theatrical Trailer



Speed Racer - International Trailer 1

WALL·E - Trailer

The Dark Knight - Trailer

The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian - Trailer

Now out on DVD
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters - Trailer

And still filming, The Watchmen movie.

Broken finger

Broken finger,
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

Parker broke his finger yesterday. Cathy asked him to make his best "sad face" before I took this picture. He fell off a scooter at daycare on Thursday and jammed his finger into the ground. When Cathy picked him up it was swollen, he had a huge blood blister and the skin under his fingernail was black. We took him to the doctor for an x-ray, a splint and to get his wound cauterized. Lots of blood, but he handled it like a champ. So,if you see Parker in the next few weeks, ask to see his boo-boo. I'm sure he'll tell you the whole story!

Welcome to the world, Eli Ross Williams

Congratulations are in order for Kim and Eric Williams. Kim gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on Saturday, Eli Ross Williams. He missed being a leap day baby by one day and missed sharing a birthday with me by one day! He was born at 5:18 PM and weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce. We hear that mother and son are both doing well and should be home soon. Cathy and Parker will hopefully get to meet him Wednesday. For some reason, Parker has already given Eli the nickname Yo-Yeah. Where does he come up with these things? Happy Birthday Eli!