April 2008 Archives
Last night, as Jean and I were sharing a few precious moments alone together before sleep, she told me about her day. During the course of the conversation, she told me that while walking to the mailbox, Jasmine held up her hand and yelled 'espera!' My Spanish is a bit rusty (over 15 years) so I asked Jean what it meant - she didn't know. We got up and pulled the Spanish books off the bookshelf and looked it up.
It means "wait".
This isn't the first time she has opted to use the Spanish word for something instead of the English word. She prefers azul to blue and will say "ayudeme" as often as she does "help me". This is the first time that I can remember having to look up what she was saying though.
It means "wait".
This isn't the first time she has opted to use the Spanish word for something instead of the English word. She prefers azul to blue and will say "ayudeme" as often as she does "help me". This is the first time that I can remember having to look up what she was saying though.
This was a special weekend. We didn't do anything special but doing it together made it special.
It was a warm day on Saturday so we filled up the wading pool and set up the sprinkler for Jasmine. We played together in the playroom. We watched TV. Jasmine said her ABCs completely unassisted.
We didn't go to Church today. I woke up and went downstairs to find Jean and Jasmine working in the yard together. When Jasmine realized I was up, she came to spend time - just the two of us. A while later, I heard Alyssa entertaining herself up in the crib so I went and got her. I put her on her play mat while Jasmine played in the playroom. After Jean came in, her and Jasmine went upstairs to get cleaned up and Alyssa rolled over for the first time.
We went out to eat at Long Horn. After, we went to Borders book store. It was just a good time.
It was a warm day on Saturday so we filled up the wading pool and set up the sprinkler for Jasmine. We played together in the playroom. We watched TV. Jasmine said her ABCs completely unassisted.
We didn't go to Church today. I woke up and went downstairs to find Jean and Jasmine working in the yard together. When Jasmine realized I was up, she came to spend time - just the two of us. A while later, I heard Alyssa entertaining herself up in the crib so I went and got her. I put her on her play mat while Jasmine played in the playroom. After Jean came in, her and Jasmine went upstairs to get cleaned up and Alyssa rolled over for the first time.
We went out to eat at Long Horn. After, we went to Borders book store. It was just a good time.
I have been exhausted lately - physically and mentally. I got the results of the blood work for my annual physical - high cholesterol. Not really unexpected. Most of the time I feel like I am walking around in a fog.
Despite the lack of energy and acuity, I have read three books recently. In all fairness, these were school level books.
Things Fall Apart
This is the story of a young woman who loses everything in the Rwandan genocide but, through her ever strengthening relationship with - and Faith in God, is able to forgive, survive, and help others. I read it in a day.
Flowers For Algernon
This is the story of a mentally handicapped man that struggles to be accepted and loved. Telling more would give away the story. I thought I had read this before but it must have been the short story version. The novel had parts that I clearly did not remember. I read it in a day.
It seems like it has been weeks or even months since I had a single creative idea outside of work. Tonight, while watching a PBS special on the brain I thought about writing a piece of software for exercising the brain. Most people who do spend time exercising their brain only work on one type of activity. For instance, some people do crosswords - others do sudoku, some play scrabble - etc. It has been shown that if an area of a brain typically reserved for a certain type of function goes unused for that purpose, it gets taken over for other purposes. The project would have a wide variety of activities to balance out that exercise.
On the other hand, any type of mental exercise is better than none.
Despite the lack of energy and acuity, I have read three books recently. In all fairness, these were school level books.
Things Fall Apart
In short, it is the story of an African (Nigeria) man who, afraid to grow up weak like his father, is driven achieve material wealth and respect. When he pits his will against the changing world around him, things fall apart.
Left To Tell
Left To Tell
This is the story of a young woman who loses everything in the Rwandan genocide but, through her ever strengthening relationship with - and Faith in God, is able to forgive, survive, and help others. I read it in a day.
Flowers For Algernon
This is the story of a mentally handicapped man that struggles to be accepted and loved. Telling more would give away the story. I thought I had read this before but it must have been the short story version. The novel had parts that I clearly did not remember. I read it in a day.
It seems like it has been weeks or even months since I had a single creative idea outside of work. Tonight, while watching a PBS special on the brain I thought about writing a piece of software for exercising the brain. Most people who do spend time exercising their brain only work on one type of activity. For instance, some people do crosswords - others do sudoku, some play scrabble - etc. It has been shown that if an area of a brain typically reserved for a certain type of function goes unused for that purpose, it gets taken over for other purposes. The project would have a wide variety of activities to balance out that exercise.
On the other hand, any type of mental exercise is better than none.
So the planets aligned - the weather was beautiful, I got out of work on time, we were all up for an adventure - so we went for a walk.
It was very refreshing. I watched Jasmine make up games like jumping over cracks or shadows. I sang song to Alyssa as I pushed her stroller and told her stories about how Jasmine, when she was her age, would hold out her tongue to catch the wind. We stopped and watched the ducks and of course everyone passing by commented on how beautiful the girls are.
It is amazing how an hour with your family on a walk can put a smile on your face and make stress melt away
It was very refreshing. I watched Jasmine make up games like jumping over cracks or shadows. I sang song to Alyssa as I pushed her stroller and told her stories about how Jasmine, when she was her age, would hold out her tongue to catch the wind. We stopped and watched the ducks and of course everyone passing by commented on how beautiful the girls are.
It is amazing how an hour with your family on a walk can put a smile on your face and make stress melt away
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