People weren’t kidding when they said to enjoy every minute of parenting ’cause the babies grow up fast. I’m staring straight at September, which will be one year since we had our son. And because I’ve been preoccupied with trying to enjoy the trials of parenting I am not staring at the September issue of Vogue yet. Long-time readers will remember that this is the one issue I make sure to grab, or heft may be a better word for it. The NY Times reports the magazine is stuffed with 691 ad pages, up from 651 last year. But the combined page count is reportedly down from last year. I’ll be sure to get mine soon, if only because the baby can’t possibly lift it up to his mouth to chew it into a soggy mass.

Alton Brown has explained why the latest Good Eats episodes look so different on his Rants and Raves page. In short, they are filming in hi-def. But all that new technology didn’t prevent him from getting run over by a giant meatball.

Panda Weblog! from the San Diego Zoo. Read all about the new cub, the third offspring of wonderful mom Bai Yun. Her first, Hua Mei, had twins in China last year. I’m sure there will be much cuteness to observe in the months to come on the Panda Cam. The National Zoo’s panda cub is a few weeks older, “very solid and sturdy and extremely cute.”

Harley Spiller, “collector extraordinaire,” keeps popping up in articles about Chinese restaurants, particularly New York ones. That’s because he’s collected over 10,000 Chinese takeout menus and he doesn’t just throw them in a box, he studies them too. He’s decided to try for the Guinness Book of World Records (world’s largest menu collection) so he popped up in the NY Times again. His many other newspaper mentions are gathered up on this page. And he doesn’t just collect menus, here’s a list of his other collections such as “Matchbooks with maps on them.” I think I have more shopping bags than he does — not on purpose though!

I like to think I collect perfume bottles, but I don’t really have the inclination to spend a lot of money on it, so I only buy what I find appealing but still affordable (OK, cheap). It’s more of an offshoot of my love of glass art rather than perfume itself. This Sunday’s NY Times Magazine has a piece on those flasks that house expensive scents. The creation process is like any other collaboration between artist and engineer; it’s all about creative negotiation and resource management. The accompanying slide show has some nifty smoke photography by Mitchell Feinberg.

Two tugboats took The Protector away from Kirkland’s waterfront where it had served as a breakwater for the Kirkland Yacht Club since 1997. The former research vessel was considered an eyesore to many as it blocked their views of Lake Washington. According to the narrator on our recent Argosy cruise the marina owner was unable to get permission from the city to build a permanent breakwater so The Protector was brought in as a solution and constant reminder. Now the marina will be rebuilt and a breakwater is in the plan. The Protector is off to Barnacle Point Shipyard in Ballard for repairs.

iPodified baby. Except the kid outgrows onesies so quickly that “Only $15.95” is a ridiculous statement.

Elvis Costello is headlining Seattle’s Bumbershoot this year!

Patti LuPone is returning to Broadway in Sweeney Todd. Angela Lansbury will always be the quintessential Mrs. Lovett, but LuPone, the quintessential Evita, will surely put her unique mark on the role.

Hershey’s is buying Scharffen Berger. I don’t know what to say. I still consume Stonyfield Yogurt (Dannon), Ben & Jerry’s (Unilever), and Nantucket Nectars (Cadbury Schweppes) after their mega-corp acquisitions. But I’ll need a little time to digest the Hershey’s and Scharffen Berger news.