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Friday, April 22, 2011

The Thick

The Bubs decided to check out the new yellow flowers growing on a Forsythia bush nearby campus, so we investigated it together. He found an opening in the thick of it and entered into a cool little area. He seemd to like it and hung out there a while. However, he couldn't get out. He wasn't able to grasp the concept of "backtracking." He decided to push through the wall of twigs near me, but it didn't work. I finally parted the twigs and helped him escape.

Then he ran back to where he entered the bush and went in again, only to get himself trapped again.

Little did I realize that this was fun. Once I realized that he was having fun, I thought about going inside the bush myself. I hesitated. Then I changed my mind. Now, I wish I went inside.

I'm getting boring I think.




Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Leaves and the New York Mets

 Two days ago, the Bubs and I were looking through openings between the two-by-fours of a deck. All I had to say was, "Bubs. What's that? Look! What's that?" as I pointed down between the boards on the deck. He bit on the bait with excitement. He got down on his hands and knees, peered through the boards in hopes of seeing whatever it was that I was excited about. I said with excitement in my voice, "leaves Bub! There are leaves down there!" However, this discovery didn't excite him. He acted indifferent. He must have been hoping to see something more interesting.

I remember when the mere mention of leaves excited the Bubs. He must be moving on to bigger and better things. What's next on his list of discoveries? What will he find exciting next?

His Thomas trains are a guarantee. Thomas, James and Rosie are always exciting. However, we need another form of excitement to replace what the leaves once provided. Discovering bugs, tree bark, pine cones, acorns, mud, puddles, muddy puddles all are exciting. The list is endless, but the leaves must be a thing of the past. Maybe they'll return one day. Maybe he'll rediscover the leaves... like when I show him, one day, how to, 1) cover a leaf with notebook paper, 2) shade over the leaf with the side of a freshly, sharpened lead pencil, and 3) Hang up the notebook paper, with the perfect image of a leaf, on his wall. That should bring some excitement back to leaves... some rediscovery... maybe.

Until then, we'll walk some more outdoors and see what else is laying around. I need not worry that he'll lose interest in discovering new things, because that never seems to leave a person. I still enjoy some discovery like wood working and cooking, but I think that rediscovery is sometimes better. Rediscovery brings back old excitement. For example, I've rediscovered my New York Mets. I lost interest after that '86 World Series team, but I remember how cool it was to follow that team. I look forward to having the Mets back in my life. I even look forward to introducing the Bubs to the New York Mets and watching his excitement grow with them too (hopefully).

Maybe the Mets will replace the newly fallen leaves this coming October? That'll bring some excitement.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Running Laps

 The Bubs is starting to run, run, run. That's how I get him to run too. I just say, "run, run, run" and off he goes. His stride is quick, but little area gets covered. It seems that he should be moving faster for all that work. Up on campus, he practiced running laps. He ran up the steps and down the ramp... up steps down ramp... up and down. I had to sit down while he relentlessly ran lap after lap... after lap.

My earliest memory of running (and not because I was being chased) was with my dad (who wasn't actually running) in the Vernon High School gymnasium. I was only in elementary school, but the high school had a wrestling program for little guys. I remember running around the basketball court with a friend from school. We ran lap after lap after lap. The reason we started running was because we thought we were the first two kids to arrive. Nobody else was there. The gym was empty. So my friend's mom suggested that we run laps (as she and my dad sat and talked on the bleachers). I was running laps for no apparent reason. Around ten laps later, we learned that the wrestling program was being held in the high school cafeteria. We went from being the first two to practice, to the last two to practice as we walked into the cafeteria... but we were already warmed up at least. Years later, I ended up running a marathon, four half-marathons and many other multiple-mile runs... for no apparent reason. Perhaps that day running in the gym wasn't a total waste.

 Maybe the Bubs will run a marathon one day. If he ever asks me to run with him, then I'll be sure to pull out my finish line medallions and running stories to share with him as we run down the road together.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Couches

 The Bubs recently discovered (or rediscovered) our couches. The one is a hand-me-down couch that we acquired free-of-charge. The Bubs seems to find comfort on this couch, which makes the price a true steal. The green futon couch, which sits in another room, is the couch that the Bubs loves to run full speed towards and jump up onto. I say to the Bubs, "Run, run, run and jump on the green couch" and off he goes.

The couch that I grew up with was oddly similar to the neo-comfy couch (picture above). Actually, it's a little eery. From what I can recall, the print and colors are similar - if not exact. However, the arms were not as thick and there were wooden, side-head rests which protruded out from either side (of my childhood couch). Oh ya, there was a lot of cat hair on it.

Please don't misinterpret this to say that my childhood home was dirty (although it was), I'm just describing the couch. I do remember my mom cleaning the house, but she also worked full time when I started school. So this didn't leave too much time for the house, and couch, to be thoroughly cleaned. My father? Well, let's just say he didn't clean. I do remember a day when my mother made my brother and me - get down on our hands and knees - and pick up lint from our rug. Apparently, our vacuum cleaner was broken. You know, even if we did get all the lint picked up off that rug, it wouldn't have mattered much. Cat hair was everywhere. You wouldn't be able to get up off that couch without some cat hair clinging to you. Where am i going with this blog? Maybe I'll just end it here. :) 

Let's just say that if the Bub's ever asks us for a cat, I'll suggest a dog.
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