h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Eleven years ago, my eldest daughter was born in Carlisle (Pennsylvania) Hospital. Later that same day I literally fell asleep in my dinner on the floor of our apartment to wake some hours later with french fries stuck to my face.

I'll never forget the awe and shock at seeing her for the first time. And 11 years later she is still an awe-inspiring little thing (though she's over 5-feet and still growing).

Happy birthday Natalie!

Five feet? Not bad. You'll be looking up at her in no time. If she's anything like me, she'll be mocking her parents mercilessly about being taller.

Happy Birthday N X

She's got a ways to go before she's looking down on me...

And I hope that day never comes. I know a girl who is 6-2 and she has a horrible time finding clothes. They don't make a lot of size 13 shoes for women apparently.

No, I meant you would shrink and shrivel over time

Ouch.

You'll get old some day, though I haven't started shrinking yet. Surprisingly, I do find myself acting older as I get older - playing more golf and less football; listening to more Frank Sinatra and less heavy metal; going to bed earlier instead of later.

Blimey, I'll be a before you know it...

I find myself going to bet later as I get older. Old people don't need much sleep. At present I get away with 6 hours on a good night.

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Natalie. My Daughter El will be 15 on Thursday next, so I've some idea what it is like to have a birthday so close to Christmas.

"They don't make a lot of size 13 shoes for women apparently."

She needs to nip out to something like Erotica. Happy birthday as well from me.

To bed earlier, but I'm up well before sunrise so I reckon it balances...

And Ideno, we don't have shops like that in Pennsylvania.

My, do they grow up so quickly.

I absolutely *had* to take a kip last night after getting my yinglings off to bed. Two and a half hours later I awoke, not knowing who or where I was. In general I find I need less sleep, but it depends a lot on the day I have just had.