Morning Reflection

Sunday morning we all were slowly starting our day after a night with friends over late. They sun was warm on the back porch and I stood there leaning over the railing. My brain was slowly thawing enough to realize it was time to give the yard some Spring attention when Leon walked up.

He mimicked my relaxed position on the railing, sighed and said, "So it ginns."

He seemed pretty confident about what he said, but I wasn't getting it, "What did you say?"

"So it ginns." Still confident in the pronunciation.

"Are you saying, 'So it begins'"?

"Yeah, so it begins. Day is started."

Sly

I was neck deep into a project last weekend when the boys started swarming like killer bees, picking up my tools, taking them off, and giving me fits. I always flash back to Israel and I doing that to Dad in those cases. Beth asked if I wanted her to put a video on the computer to keep them out of my hair. I declined knowing they would probably lose interest if I just made myself look as large as possible and made a bunch of noise. Grizzly defense also works on toddlers.

It worked and they were off to the next camper. Soon I heard Leon marching methodically in circles around Beth yelling "LA LA LA LA", ranting like a madman. Then he stopped and calmly told her, "Do you know what might keep me quiet? A mooooooooooovie."

He didn't get his movie. Luckily, Beth had bear mace on her.

Valentine

The boys experienced the joys of yet another holiday. Candy entered the household once again. Once candy enters this household, all members seemed to go a bit crazy. The boys become deceptive, conniving gluttons. My lady becomes the Gestapo. I become the lone voice of hedonism. "Indulge!" is what I say. It's a holiday, after all. Time to take a holiday from your convictions, morals, and inhibitions.

In an effort to break up a fight, I explained to Leon that Valentines day is about loving everyone all day. "That's why people are giving you candy! They are loving you today. So you have to love everyone today, too." Later he came up and hugged me, "I'm loving you soooo much, so you will give me candy."

I got the boys a box of Sweetart hearts and gave them full responsibility of the entire box. I warned them of getting sick if they just swallowed the whole box, and I told them it would be best to save some for tomorrow. But who listens to Dad? This morning there isn't a single Sweetart in the house, of course. Leon polished off the last few right before bedtime and joyfully announced, "I'm going to be SICK tonight!"

Silas would soak a heart in his mouth for a minute and then put it back in the box. He shared about half of the box with Beth and me. I admit I had a few soggy ones. He had his finished of by bedtime too. No lessons were learned this holiday. Unless maybe that Dad doesn't know what the heck he's talking about.

Overheard

I was standing in line during my morning Bojangles run today when this 60-something woman ran up to the cashier and asked in the thickest southern accent, "Honey, ask Jessie what they call the color of her car."

"Mango Tango!" Jessie hollered from back in biscuit central.

I grabbed my bacon, egg, cheese, and tea and followed the woman back out to her group of friends in the dining room. There are about 15 of these retirees that take over half of Bojangles every morning. Coffees and newspapers are spread around the tables all pulled together. They've got it made. I hope to  join them eventually. They were apparently waiting for the color of this car. She announced, "It's MANGO TANGO!"

Before I headed out I heard her best explanation of the color. It couldn't have be more wrong: "It must be a mix of mandarin orange and tangos."

Think about it.

"I would challenge anyone here to think of a question for which we once had a scientific answer, however inadequate, but for which now the best answer is a religious one." - Sam Harris

Phil Glass

Philip Glass is 75 today.

Why I like this human being:
Early on in his life he challenged his surroundings and out of it birthed a distinct voice and movement. He is sincere. He is buds with a favorite artist of mine. His cousin is my favorite radio personality. His music is  very emotional and meditative. He is a Buddhist, and I've never been acquainted with a Buddhist I didn't like.

Would you like a listen? Start here.

Dinosaur Train

Both boys have been hooked on this little kids show called "Dinosaur Train". Each episode talks about a different dinosaur as well as simple explanations of the scientific process. For instance, every episode has a section about a "Hypothesis: an IDEA you can TEST. YAYYY!!!!!"

The other night I wondered how much Leon was absorbing from this show and asked him if he new any dinosaur names. "Tyrannosaurus!"

"WOW! That's great! How about this: can you tell me what a hypothesis is?" I asked.

He looked out of the corner of his eye for a bit and chirped, "Oh! That's the one with spikes on his back!"

Silas is quick to come up with a dinosaur name as well. He simply shouts out the first four syllables that come to his mind. "Kay Too Mee Pee!"

Close enough.