XIX: The Lock

We've got a lot to cover today and not much time so let's get right down to business. When we last left, our heroes were preparing for the tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy of young Margaret Grace. And now that a few weeks have passed and her head has stopped spinning around, I think we can say the surgery was a success. Mom and Dad made the trek out and helped us during the day of surgery and the days immediately following. And despite the pain, Maggie was able to eat about 22 popsicles. What was most impressive is that she outpaced her sister in that regard.

Young Master Watson received his first report card and has started reading to his sisters, which is very fun to watch. We are also trying to get through the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe before it is released in the theatres. He has also tried his hand at writing, including this story which I share with you now. Keep in mind, the assignment was simply to write a story involving two characters and a problem which must be resolved.

The Lock
by Jimmy
(reprinted with permission)
Tom and Bob have a lock. They do not have a key.
They look under the bed.
Not there!
They look on the desk
There it is!
Now they can open the lock.
The end.

Note the author's use of the five-part Shakespearean construct, and the flare with which he punctuates. The only thing missing is the use of a Red Rider BB gun by one of the characters.
Last week my aunt Jane and uncle Jack came to visit. On Sunday, we went to Manhattan(sans enfants), which was Jack's first visit to the Big Apple. The principal purpose was to see the Broadway show "Spamalot," which is loosely based on the movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Our seats, thanks to Jane, were in a private balcony, several feet above the first tier and stage. Despite my temptations ("I wonder what it would be like to throw Jack over the side"...."wonder if I can shoot this spitball into the orchestra pit, I have a clean shot at the tuba") I mostly behaved. For me, the musical was very good because it made fun of all other musicals. The stars of the show are David Hyde Pierce (who played Niles on the TV show "Frasier"), and Tim Curry (who played Rooster in the movie "Annie" but is better known for a certain cult classic).

Speaking of Annie, she has included, in her repertoire of ramblings, the words "pancake" and "ta-da", which she says after consuming an entire stack of pancakes. She also knows her ABC's, (thanks to the Princess Laptop ABC game) except for M, which might explain in part why this exchange occurs:

Me: "Annie, say Daddy"
Annie: "Dat-tee"
Me: "Annie, say please"
Annie: "Peeeeezzzze"
Me: "Annie, say Mommy"
Annie: silence.
Me: Running for cover.

Oh, and speaking of Regis, a funny story from our trip to the City with Jack and Jane. So there we are, en route to the show, in the middle of Times Square, with about 2 million people(many of whom have rejected the notion of personal hygiene). And as we walk, we hear "Hey Regis!" It was the brother of one of my college roommates. Everyone gets recognized in Times Square, happens all the time. Or never.
Hope all is well.

XVIII: The Salad Days

Can you believe we are up to XVIII? I remember when I turned XVIII. I was a freshman in college. Those were the days. The "salad" days, as they say. Which begs the question, what is a "salad" day? And who are "they" anyway. And why do "they" say these things? Who knows.

Speaking of morons, wait until you all hear what I did now. There's idiocy and there's lunacy and there's me. Three weeks ago, after considerable stewing, and many phone calls and many conversations with myself that were out loud and involved Regis saying "are you asking me or just fighting with yourself again," I decided to head west in the Maxima and catch the Notre Dame-USC game. I departed on Friday night after work, stayed at my good friend Ryan's house (in Hudson, Ohio), and he and his wife, Angie, and I headed for the Bend on Saturday morning. Obviously, as has been well documented, the game did not end as I was hoping. My depression ended about the time my voice came back (yesterday, so only a few weeks, not bad) but it was a great experience. I owe it all to my wife for being a wonderful, supportive, die-hard spouse - she amazes me every day (Ok, that was just plain sappy! What's going on here?). Anyway, because of my journey, I missed a visit from my sister Joan, my sister Jill, her husband Patrick, and their son George. This was the first big chance for the "cousins" to play and by all accounts they had a wonderful time. Some of you may have received pictures of the event.

For the most part things are moving along as usual. Last Saturday, Jimmy played in the "Super Bowl" of the flag football season, which involved a victory by the "Cowboys" over the "Giants." No big stats from the win for the boy, but he played well and mixed it up. These things don't always show up in the box score you know. And of course, we recently had some Halloween excitement (Jimmy was a policeman, Maggie was Sleeping Beauty, and Annie was Snow White). This was Annie's first significant experience with the event, and by all indications she's a big fan. As you can probably picture, we went through the usual routine, but Annie perceptively noted a loophole in the system. As the candy-distributing homeowner leaned over and listened intently to Jimmy and Maggie's answers to the "and what are you dressed up as?" question, Annie would quietly reach into the candy bowl and take a more generous portion than she had already been allotted. Now, most parents would swoop in and correct such greedy behavior. Well, Regis wasn't really noticing this happening, so she couldn't. Oh, what's that? Me? Oh, right, I am her father huh? Well, I was too darn proud of her. So, another Halloween came and went and when we arrived home Annie's bag weighed twice that of the other two.

Tomorrow Maggie goes in for surgery to remove tonsils and adenoids. They are abnormally large and need to come out to help her breathing. So, keep us all in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow. She's a trooper and we know she'll be fine and feel much better afterwards.
And pray for me and Jimmy, because we will be home all weekend with unhappy women. Maggie, because she will be in pain and whiny. Regis, because of Maggie. Annie, because she's almost two and she's heard that's what she's supposed to do at that age.

I kid.

Mostly.