I kid you not...

Out of the blue, as Garion was finishing up dinner tonight:

"Dad. I think that Barack Obama says the right things, but I don't think he does all of them. That's why I'm voting for Hillary Clinton."*

Moses (while trying to maintain composure): "ohhhh...."

Garion: "and I'm also not voting for John Edwards or John Kerry."

(Moses and Kerry fall over in shock. )

Moses: "where did you hear about John Kerry?"

Garion: "the radio." (as in, "Dah. what planet are you guys living on?")
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*Garion's political views are not necessarily those of his parents.

Snowday

Moses was in the mood for a little adventure this weekend so we decided to head up to Mt. Lemmon to play in the snow. We followed Robert Frost's advice and chose the road less traveled by (a dirt track that starts in the town of Oracle and winds it's way to the top of the mountain) and it made all the difference. We got to the very top of the road only to discover that the gate was locked, which then entailed turning around and taking the long, winding, dirt path back down. We had a great time, Garion loved the snow, Moses loved his truck, and I loved my nice toasty warm socks. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

The Book a Month Challenge!

I'm totally in. My friend Anali just turned me on to the Book a Month Challenge for 2008. Each month, the Book a Month folks (or folk, I think there might be only one) post a theme, participants read a book corresponding to that theme, and post a review. My kind of challenge! Stayed tuned in 2008 for fascinating, insightful, and otherwise erudite book reviews.
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On somewhat, but not really, related topics, I totally want an Amazon Kindle. I'm not exactly sure why, since it costs ~$400 and I can pick-up books from the library FOR FREE, and books that I want to own at Bookmans, etc. for about $5.00 or less. But there's something about being able to download a book on the spot and have it instantly available that is powerfully enticing to me. I could be on vacation, decide that the book I have is a stinker, and just download another one right then and there (for $9.00). I also like the idea of being able to carry around multiple books at one time, without carrying around multiple books (since that requires a big bag). I have a little fantasy of myself carrying around my Kindle and casually pulling in out of my bag at lunch time, perusing the five to ten titles I have saved, and deciding what brilliant, literary work should accompany me while I partake of my leftovers and organic apple. There is no way on earth that I can justify spending $400 on this thing, but I still want it. ("What!?" you say, "how can Kerry-the-Ultimate-Justifier-of-Unnecessary-Purchases, like more shoes, not justify this!?" Library books are free, that's how I can't do it.)
Why is it, I wonder, that I am always so enthralled by these types of $400+ contraptions? (I've also been drooling over the iPhone for awhile, the Xtracycle cost a pretty penny-yay for work bonuses!-and I want to buy a television so I can watch swimmers and triathletes in the 2008 Summer Olympics. I also want several less than $400 things like a new purse even though the one I've been using is absolutely, completely fine and functional.) I know they will not make me happy. They will not improve my life in any meaningful way. I will enjoy them for a while, but then get used to them and they will not be special. My life without out them is completely wonderful (library books are FREE!!!, this is a wonderful thing! it is!). Why, why, why? I need a stuff vaccine that will make me immune to the charms of new and shiny crap.

My Knight in Purple Paper Armor

This is how Garion came home today: he burst through the door and said, "Look, Mama! I'm a knight!" He then explained that he had a "round," a sword, a knife, and arm things. Moses said, "you mean a crown," and Garion said, "no, a round, knights wear a round." Whatever. Here's an action shot.

A Little Bit Crazy

Yesterday, we invited ourselves up to our friends Chris and Anali's house for a long over due visit. Chris and Anali already had tickets for a concert of Baroque music performed by the Phoenix Symphony Chamber Orchestra. So, after some hemming and hawing, Moses and I decided that we were brave and we would go. With our child. Who is five. And who didn't nap that day. Crazy? You betcha! But you can never call us chickens! The concert took place in a church with the orchestra set up in the front and partially on the alter. We found a couple of seats in the front row, which meant that the last chair violinist was about two feet in front of us. Yes, not only did we take our child to symphony, but we drastically upped the ante by sitting nearly on top of a performer. Garion did fairly well, all things considered. He was particularly fascinated by a portion of the music in which the violinists played by plucking their strings (instead of bowing). However, he really wanted to have a conversation the whole time and described the music as "sleepy." (If only he had slept, I could have relaxed a little). By the end we were seriously pushing our luck, and I thought I might have to beg forgiveness of the last chair violin dude (who gets extra points for riding his bike to the concert!) who could probably see my fidgety five year old out of the corner of his eye the entire time. I'm afraid that yesterday we might have been those parents that other people were rolling their eyes at and saying, "what were they thinking, why would you bring a child that young to this kind of concert?" I guess it was just our turn to be the annoying parents; I vow to have more patience with other annoying parents in the future on the off chance that they aren't bad parents, they just made one sketchy decision that I happen to be suffering the results of at that moment.
On the other hand, I loved the concert. I so miss that time of my life when I used to go to live performances of whatever, all the time. But I especially love live music. I think my favorite sound in the world is of an orchestra tuning up--there is so much anticipation, I get so excited just thinking about what's about to come. Moses and I don't go to live performances often anymore just because it's hard to get a babysitter. But it occurred to me yesterday that there is no rule that says I can't go occasionally on my own, even if Moses can't come. There's also no rule, for most things, that says I can't bring Garion, although, I might try for performances that will be less "sleepy" for him and more interesting. There is, however, a rule that you can't bring a child under the age of six to Tucson Symphony Orchestra performances--I guess they're on to us.