It all comes back to this

Andy has developed a love of photography.

We know this. Over Thanksgiving he took pictures with my camera for over two hours. This prompted my parents to give him a camera for christmas - a V-tech deal that takes actual digital photos and takes video. Did you ever think you'd live to see the day? Well, he doesn't really end up taking too many pictures with it because it also plays games.

Recently he has been focused on taking pictures with my computer. The Photo Booth application will take shots of whoever is sitting in front of the screen. Andrew asks to sit infront of the computer whenever he can, and will manipulate the style and background to see what he can create.

Which is why I found the following saved on my desktop:

Of course, when I see Andy taking all of these pictures, I immediately have my own version of the "Maybe One Day He'll Be President" daydream. Only instead of becoming a politician,  I imagine Andy doing something like this.

But boys will be boys, I guess. I can have whatever dreams I want, but when it comes down it it, he's going to do what he's going to do.

Still, I have to admit I was shocked and surprised when he ran into the bathroom, where I was cleaning the bathtub. His eyes were shining and bright. "Mom!" he said. "You have to come and see! I pulled down my pants and took pictures of my bum!"

Oh, the craziness.

Say It In Writing

Proof I'm Crazy

Remember Ice-Cream for Breakfast Day?

Boy In A Tree

I don't know if I should let Nate Climb trees. If I do I feel I'm letting him be reckless and endangering his welfare. If I don't I feel I'm being an overprotective ninny of a parent.

Gumball Machine

This is the story of a Gumball machine.

For christmas one year, Jamie got a gumball machine. I think Winston gave it to him, but I could be wrong. I remember being a little impressed with the gumball machine. It looked cool. But I didn't really think about it that much.

I must have been in the 10th grade the year of the Gumball Machine Fiasco. This fiasco involves other people, and I apologize to them because this is their story, too. Please think of me more as a historian, making a notation of facts for future generations.

Anyway, our school used to give students a couple of days before exams to study. And the year I was in the 10th grade, both my brother and sister were also home "studying" with  me.

Of course, we didn't just study. We spent a fair amount of time goofing off.

I forget what exactly happened. I think Winston and Anne-E were fooling around in her room. She was on the floor and Winston was bouncing something on the ground which hit her in the face. Nothing serious, but she was hurt and angry. Being the busybody older sibling that I was, I had to get in there and start telling people off.  I might have been the one to yell at Winston, or it might have been Anne-E. Whichever one, Winston was upset, and he dashed off into the bathroom that connected Anne-E's room to Jamie's. 

Anne-E was just telling me what happened when we heard a crash. My sister and I locked eyes shook our heads. "NOW what did you do?" we called out.  There was no answer, so we peeked our heads in.

The bathroom was covered in blood. The mirror was not broken. Winston had dashed across into Jamie's room, and in his frustration had punched the gumball machine.

Now, I don't know what guys punch things. Personally, I get frustrated and then scream and yell and screech until I cry, and then I eat a lot of chocolate. It works for me. But some guys just need to punch innocent objects, and this time it was the gumball machine, which had fought back.

The story goes on. We were alone in the house, and didn't know how to deal with a serious cut. In a panic, I called my best friend Larissa, and asked to speak with her mother, who came to our rescue and whisked Winston away to the hospital where they refused to give him stitches anyway because he needed a parent to consent.

Flash Forward.

For christmas this year, the boys got a gumball machine. I think Jamie gave it to them, but I could be wrong. So far, the boys have done nothing violent to the machine. They pour quarters into it and get sticky gumballs in return. But I can't help but remember when Jamie was the one with the coins and the gum. 

Forgetful or insane

My forgetfulness is starting to concern me.

I keep forgetting my parents phone number.

Now, I know people program numbers into cell phones and so never get to know the info. But I am not one of those people. I mean, yes I have a cell phone, and numbers are in there, but I usually use my land line. I actually dial that number once or twice a week for most of the months of the year. In fact, I dialed that number in the morning with no issues, but that afternoon I was convinced it was something else. I checked the emergency phone list I keep by the phone for the pet-care folks. But the number I had there was the number I had been dialing. Meaning the wrong one.

And this is not the first time that it has happened. If I have to ask Jamie what our parent's phone number is one more time, He might have me committed. Or I might die of embarrassment.

Does everyone have these concerns about themselves? Does everyone start to wonder, at some point, if being forgetful or absurdly absent minded is normal, or the signs of some more serious brain disorder?

Running Again

I am running again.

I feel great.

I'm not talking about my ankle, which feels fine. Sometimes I think it might be hurting me, but I have determined I'm ghosting it. I'm thinking about it and making it up. Because during the day it doesn't hurt, and there has been no swelling at all.

I'm taking it easy. Very easy, when I think about what I used to do. Just 20 minutes, hardly any incline, and not too fast. I plan on increasing it very, very slowly. I plan on not wearing shoes at all in my own house, and being very careful about when I choose to wear anything with heels at all.  I make it a  point to stretch before I run. I promise to try and do yoga at least once a week, so I havent given it up completely!

What feels great is me. I am happier and more energetic when I run. I am more confident. I sleep better.