From the Plane

Out my window I see mountains... I'm flying to San Francisco for a quick series of meetings and will be back Tuesday night in time to tuck the kids into bed. Today, the flight attendant called me by name. Well, tried to - it's a long last name. But I guess that's what happens when you go Platinum.

I've been doing a little work but that was getting a bit dull... I tried to watch a movie I had rented, but it was flat out terrible. I've really been enjoying the little news breaks on the Onion website. But the MOVIE they came out with (direct to DVD) is just painfully unfunny. I gave it 30 min that I'll never get back in my life... fortunately it was just airplane time. Now don't get me wrong, I love me some sketch comedy - the Peter Serafinowicz Show on BBCAmerica is sheer brilliance. But this was like bad MadTV.

In conclusion: I do not recommend "The Onion Movie". Now, on to the kid stories.

Last night I put the kiddos to bed (with Pamela's help, of course, but when I go out of town I like to be the "staying in the room" parent to maximize my cuddle time), Both were pretty wound up: Isaac is ready to move from the simple picture books to longer stories, so last night I brought out "Go Dog Go", which he sat bolt upright for. At the end, he demanded an immediate re-reading. At the end (spoiler alert - don't read if you don't know the ending to Go Dog Go) when the dogs are headed to the tree for the party, I read "What is at the top of that tree?", Isaac shouted "A PARTY!!!!" I'd say that kid is definitely retaining what he hears.

Hush Little Alien is a take on that Mockingbird rhyme (Hush little alien don't say a word, papa's going to catch you a goony bird, etc). It was one of his favorite books, but he's decided he likes a few songs at bedtime, so I turn out the light and sing him the book from memory. It's to the point where he's singing along now, so I need to mix in more songs. He doesn't like Mary Had a Little Lamb anymore (even with the secret third and fourth verses). I was singing him "Hold Me Now" by the Thompson Twins, and need to work on a few more I think. Maybe People are People by Depeche Mode?

Bella had a hard time winding down too: She grew concerned about her grandpas and wanted to know how old they were and whether they were going to die soon... I assured her that they're both healthy and had strong parents so they'll definitely be around to see her get married and maybe even have a kid. And probably even longer, with the advances in medicine. Well, that opened the door: she wanted to know why old people die, and why I think medicine will help them live longer. This got into a discussion of the circulatory system, why arteries are red and veins are blue, (and why there are "arteries" and "veins" - "can't we just call them tubes?" she asks) and how arterial blockage can be fatal. I stopped short of discussion cardiac catheterization, but we'll get there. It was very fun, even if it was a ploy to stay awake a little longer... if she learned something, that's a reward in itself.