Run With The Fishes

For a long time music had a pretty big part in my life. Enough that I majored in it my first two years in college. One of my regrets is that I haven’t really done much since, well, I changed my major. Sure, my kids have had the same musical toys as all kids do, a keyboard, some toy drums, recorders, and tiny xylophones, but really that’s it. We don’t just sit around talking about classical music and all of the different instruments used to play it.

The night before last, for whatever random reasoning occurs in the mind of a four year old, Allison was wishing that she had a Tuba. “It sure would be fun to have a tuba to play.”

I told her that it might be fun, but right now, she could fit inside of a tuba. I also told her that I had something called a trumpet and that it is sort of like a little tuba. I pulled it out of the closet and all three kiddos clamored for a chance to try it.

When it was Allison’s turn, she decided she wanted to be a marching tuba player (I can’t convince her that it’s called a trumpet). I told her she should just stay still for now, but I guess that didn’t sound very fun to her. She immediately marched into the wall. I don’t know if you’ve ever walked into something while holding a brass instrument, but man, it hurts*. It doesn’t seem to have made her not want to continue playing instruments though, because she has been asking to play the trumpet off and on the past two days.

Now that it’s out, I think I may keep it out and try playing it again. I have also figured out why my mom encouraged me to practice outside when I first started learning. I hope I don’t kill anyone’s ears.

I think that Cindy has mentioned that she has (and we were in band together), but did any of you play a musical instrument? Have you kept it up?

*yes, I am a klutz, why do you ask?

If you really want to amaze your four year old daughter all you have to do is take your bra off under your shirt and pull it out through the arm hole. “How did you do that?!?:

After I did this, Allison whipped off her own shirt and decided she needed to figure it out. She spent about 15 minutes practicing. Also, if you ask her, she thinks that moles are little tiny boobies. I cannot convince her that they are called moles and that they are just brown bumps on your skin.

Yeah, really I don’t have much today. Anything exciting going on in your neck of the woods?

Only two more days left to go for the whole nablopomo thing. I think it’s pretty great that I’ve managed to post every day for almost a month. If I do say so myself. There isn’t much to post about today. I’m working on top secret crafty projects. After they have been sent and received, I may or may not show pictures. It all depends on if I get around to taking any or not.

Do any of you watch Pushing Daisies? I think I’ve decided that it’s my new favorite show. Cleverly written, great musical moments, and Pee-Wee Herman. You can’t really ever go wrong if you have Paul Reubens on your show.

Because we always wait until the last few weeks, it is now time to get serious about holiday shopping. First we have to come up with a budget. Then we have to narrow down the list of gift receivers. With growing families, it means that brothers and sisters who have procreated get usurped by their children. For the nephews, do we get them a group present or individual gifts. Is it lame to give books or homemade gifts? Because later on, I don’t want my nephews to dread opening up presents from us. I don’t want to be known as either Aunt Lame-oh or Aunt She-must-be-crazy. You know, like the dreaded pink bunny suit. Instead, I’d like to imagine them being really excited to find out what is in their packages from us.

Did you have any relatives that you dreaded receiving presents from? What did they send you that was so horrible?

Greg came into the living room and asked where Allison was.
Anna: “You mean you didn’t see her in our room? I told her if she hurried to our bed and fell asleep fast, she might get to stay there the whole night.”
Greg: “I didn’t see her, but I’ll go check again.”

What he found instead was this:

Allison decided that LT needed a bedtime story.

A few weeks ago we got a call to see if we were interested in keeping a diary of the shows we watch and when we watch them for one week. I didn’t see any harm in it so said they could send the information. I also immediately forgot about this phone call. That is, until today.

We got the diaries in the mail. According to the instructions, we were supposed to start keeping tabs on our tv viewing starting on Thanksgiving. Sure, it was 3 days late, but that’s not too bad for the mail around here. Because I have this weird pressure to do well on assignments, I have been frantically trying to remember what we have watched for the past 3 days.

So far, I’m a little surprised. I thought we watched way more television than we do. I know that this weekend is slightly skewed, being a holiday and all. I’m curious to see how the rest of the week will unfold. It’s actually pretty interesting. Maybe I’ll track it for more than a week, just to see where my time is going.

Man, I am just getting this posted in the nick of time. We were watching 300. Really, Greg was watching 300 and I was falling asleep. It’s a good thing he told me it was by Frank Miller* because that made it more bearable. He also let me know that the first time he watched it, he did not have this piece of information. It’s pretty obvious that I am not a fourteen year old boy, because I thought the movie was just ok. Not one of the greatest movies ever.

So, after the movie, I went straight to bed. It hit me. I hadn’t yet posted anything today. I jumped up and said something like, “Crap, I hope it’s not midnight yet”, then ran to fire up my computer. There is only like one week left. What a wasted effort it would have been to miss it by a few minutes.

If I had just a little more time, you would be treated to the random thoughts that flitter through my mind when I am laying down to sleep. All of those things that your brain tries to put to rest so that you can drift away to dream land. I hope that tonight my dreams aren’t of heads being chopped off and swords going through messed up looking creatures arms.

*He’s also behind Sin City, which I think is a great movie.

An easy day full of good food and visiting with family leaves nothing really to write about. After eating we joined half of America and went to watch a movie. Since it was the only one showing in our little town, we saw Enchanted. Greg stayed home. Nathan wishes he had (it was totally a girly movie). During one part of it, Allison yelled out, “YAY!”, clapped her hands and laughed out in happiness. The movie was totally made for girls, ages 4-10 and quite possibly their moms.

I hope you all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

And now, to complete the day, even though I can’t find a recent picture of those guys, here’s what I’m thankful for.

So, are you all ready for Thanksgiving? My mom and sister are coming from Oklahoma this year. The dinner menu is planned. The house is clean. The turkey is brining. All that’s left is to cook up some food. Later this weekend we will get all of the Christmas decorations out of storage. If the weather is nice, we may even take a family picture.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for tomorrow. What is your favorite dish to make?