Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Ruby's First Ballad


More often than not, I find myself singing random kids songs to keep Ruby entertained usually as I am trying to get her to do something. If she has time to think, she will say "No Way!" to any request. But I have found starting a song then casually putting on her shoes and socks to work. As I was singing, I noticed her lower lip start to quiver and tears begin to stream down her face. Apparently, I had never sang this song to her

On top of spaghetti
All covered with cheese
I lost my poor meatball
when somebody sneezed

It rolled off of the table
and onto the floor
then my poor meatball
rolled right out the door

Despite her great empathy for the meatball (or the child who lost it), Ruby wanted to hear the song over and over, crying each time. I guess there is something in human nature that likes to be sad occasionally. That's why I married Jamey.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Coffee Angel

My niece Allison is a big bag of tricks. When you ask her What a zombie says, she says "brains", when you ask her old she is, she holds up the right number of fingers. These are great ways for her to integrate herself in social situations. However, Jamey and I have focused on training Ruby in the more important things in life. The numero uno most important thing is to make Mommy's drinks. Ruby, once set on the counter, excels in making the coffee from grinding the beans, to putting the filter in. Recently she did this in an outfit that made me realize that Jamey and I have raised our own coffee angel.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Loki's Birthday

(Loki circa 2010)

(Loki circa 1997)


We celebrated Loki's birthday this month. For a 14 year old dog he is doing pretty well with the following exceptions:
- breath like he ate 3 day old fish, and he ate it 3 minutes ago
- speaking of breathing, he sounds like a train, a fish train
- he finally is on enough pills that he has one of those days of the week pill dispensers
- he has large lumps all over his body and arthritis

Despite all this, the cool weather has brought out the puppy in Loki and he thinks nothing of running all over the neighborhood. When I left him at the vet for a checkup, the vet looked at the chart and asked the vet tech to bring in the "old" dog, not this crazy energetic creature.

Around Loki's 10th birthday, we decided he wouldn't live much longer. We gave him lobster and champagne. Each successive birthday has brought such a wealth of elaborate food, that we went more low key this time. For the first time, Ruby was savvy enough in birthdays to assist in the planning. She insisted no birthday party would be complete without balloons, hats and cupcakes. Finding no real argument to the contrary, I bring you... Loki's Birthday (observed)!