November 2007 Archives

I just finished reading Einstein, by Walter Isaacson. Einstein, as a person, to me is even more fascinating than he was before. My mother gave me the book for my birthday, and I was a little slow in reading it (it was my right-before-I-go-to-sleep book). As a book it was a little slow at times. I don't think it was the topic of the book that caused that, but probably the time of day/night and the amount of incomprehensible physics. I'm not an official on Einstein, nor am I well versed on many historical figures. Much of who Einstein was and his ideals spoke very clearly to me. There were two things (among others) that I feel really did it:

“The most beautiful emotion we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead, a snuffed-out candle.”

I couldn't have said it any better.

One other thing that made me smile was that Einstein named his boat (which he loved to sail), Tineƒ, which is Yiddish for a piece of junk. I loved that. I used to have a car which I fondly referred to as Shania, since the car would (once it hit about 72 mph), shimmy, shake, and make the earth car shake (don't get it? It's about 3:20 in.). I've named things “dajunx”, “The POS PC”, told people I drive a 1990 POS, and named something “Chibola” (El Salvador slang for "thing"). I'm sure there are other names I've given that are similar. Every one of those names is given with affection.

Anyway, I enjoyed the book and understand that it won't do the same for everybody else. Einstein was truly a fascinating individual.

No, that's not our Christmas card for this year (though I did finish it the other day, and they'll go in the mail shortly), this is Cecilia's first drawing of people… that actually look like people. You may notice the fairly unexcited look on that guy's face in the upper left (who has a torso, hands and little circles for feet 2/3 of the way down) and another guy's face near the middle of the card. They're not pretty, but at least they're people. She drew these a few weeks ago, and I've been meaning to blog about it, but kept forgetting. The other day when I mentioned Cecilia's new big girl bed I said I couldn't remember something, and this was it. I couldn't remember that drawing and…

Inspired in some ways by others' lists/comments (1, 2, 3), I'm going to list 100 things for which I am thankful, or which make me happy. There's no particular order here, and I'm bound to forget something, or leave something out. Just a little activity for me on a day dedicated to giving thanks…

We're supposed to be impressed when people say they've killed two birds with one stone - if those are real kills, or just being efficient. If that's the pinnacle of efficiency, then how am I supposed to feel when I catch three mice in one trap… in one night? Efficientest? Coolestest? Bestest everest? Some of you may be tired of reading about my various adventures in mouse-ocide, but when they're not getting into my house any longer (4 weeks of sanity, and counting), I get sick pleasure out of killing the little SoM's. I feel like I need to share in my joy with others. FYI, I caught another one in a tin cat last night as well. Four in one night is a record for me, and now bumps my total number up to 22 mice (yeah, sick). The other day when we saw one of our neighbors, he asked how things where going, at which point I gave him an update (not sure why he doesn't read my blog), and he told me that he might start calling me “Killer”. I think I'll stick with “Pedro”.

It may not be the most significant thing in her life to have ever happened, but Cecilia got to sleep in a normal bed (Big Girl Bed) for the first time on Saturday evening (11/17). She was extremely excited about the bed, almost as much as her mother was. The progression meant that Becky got to sleep in a non-porta-crib. Although it's just a slight change in sleeping arrangements, it meant that Maria would leave me alone about getting it all finally worked out. Many graces to my brother and his wife in helping make it possible.

On some other random Cecilia notes, after what felt like months of her not saying it, Cecilia randomly called Maria “Bert” the other day. It made us stop and remember how funny it was back when she was doing it a lot. Funny stuff.

Lately Cecilia has been wanting to “exercise” a bunch. By this, she means to do any number of random activities:

• Jumping Jacks - where she jumps in place and either moves her legs in and out, or her arms (making sure the clap at the top) – never both of those things together, and sometimes neither one happening at all.
• Soccer - where she puts a little purple soccer ball on the floor and then runs at it to kick it once, quickly following it wherever it goes in an attempt to kick it again. Rarely is contact made again before she gets to the table, or other sharp pieces of furniture. Note: All adults present are to applaud “And say 'Yay!'” at the end of each of these laps.
• Basketball - where she gets the red ball and tries to actually dribble the ball. Special exception here - contact with the ball only need be made once for it to count as playing basketball. Also, the same ritual with applause is required here.
• Catch - where she requests a ball (see - basketball) be tossed to her to catch it. Note: Ball must be tossed directly to her arms (or within a few inches). Tosses directed at her head or belly will go untouched as she still stands there with her arms extended as done previously.

I know there are other things she likes to do, but these have been happening for the past few nights. I can't get her to understand that I don't exercise to begin with, and what would make her think I want to exercise with her. I'm a sucker for playing with my kids, so I get involved (and we all know how much exercise it really is).

I wish I could remember what other little thing I wanted to capture on here… but I can't remember it right now. Oh well. Just sharing.

I think the person who took any photograph has a different affinity with that photo than all other viewers of that photo in the future. As we know, photos are visual representations of a moment in time, but what has struck me lately is the additional aspects they represent: a specific location, vantage point, and mental everythingness (yes, that's a word). The person who is going to be tied the most to that photo, is the person who is mentally tied to it. I think that somewhere deep down that person is able to remember the circumstances surrounding that photo. Let me give you a couple examples…

You can probably tell just how much she didn't like it. Thoughtful at first, then dislike, then trying to get it out of her mouth, then Cecilia “helping” wipe it up, then Maria using the 'ol spoon to do it, then finally happy about it. What was weird though, is that Becky was in a fabulous mood the rest of the evening… possibly even a little happier than usual. Hopefully the second attempt at the rice cereal will be more successful. (on a side note, we prefer to make our own rice cereal. Lots cheaper, and better for them.)

We had a mouse get into our home back in may as you may remember. Maybe you don't, or maybe you never knew—either way, it happened. It wasn't the best experience, but we were pleased to limit our damages and be done quickly. Little did we know that a little over four months later we would end the lives of at least 14 mice. “At least?” That's right… at least 14, since I don't know how many fury little things ate the poison I spread all around the place. Thankfully, we're now celebrating two weeks of silence tonight. Allow me to explain.