Not a one-trick pony: Books

I've highlighted my book reading ability. You're probably saying to yourself, "Self, Mate's an impressive reader of books for his age, but is that all he's got? If he plans to rule the world, he better be able to read more than just that."

Well, hear me now, and believe me later, and think about it sometime, but make a note of it now - I also read newspapers, pamphlets, books, magazines, the backs of cereal boxes, brochures, etc.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5348773430780175832&hl=en

I do have to admit, the size of newspapers does occasionally give me trouble.

Reading - It's not just for home anymore

I mentioned I've been reading to pass the time lately. I'm so into it that I don't just do it at home. I've found it's just as fun in the car.





If that world domination thing fails. And that badmitton thing fails. And the superhero thing fails. And all that other stuff fails, then I can find a living doing Books on Tape for kids.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8785692756009125187&hl=en

Talk, talk, talk

I've been busy talking to all sorts of people on the phone lately, filling them in on az anyam's situation. One of the things I like about being a child of the third millennium is that I have the technology to live my life the right way. If I want to talk on the phone in my pajamas on the stairs, I can. It's a thing of beauty.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MatthewStrada/Export/photo#5118569347391459586

Of course, now that technology is no longer a restraint, other limiting factors are in my life. When I try and talk on the phone in the bathtub az apam comes down on me hard. Technology is usually good, but parents are sometimes a real drag.

Mothers, pincushions, Edward Gibbons and the combustion engine

Az anyam is doing sooooooooooooo much better. She is back at home trying to get rested. Unfortunately, az anyam is not getting as much sleep as she should, not by any lack of trying but because of all sorts of other stuff going on (like, oh, I don't know, um, maybe the gallons of drugs coarsing through her veins). She's got a PICC line in her upper arm with a bag of antibiotics that stays attached permanently. Other than that, she's dandy.

I am currently occupying myself by playing with Mama, Papa and az apam. I am also reading a lot. Sometimes to Mama. Sometimes to Papa. Sometimes to az anyam. Sometimes to az apam. Sometimes by myself. You get the idea.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MatthewStrada/Export/photo#5117929938430234850

Silver linings are sometimes more of a greyish hue

The upside of this downer of a week was that I got to spend time with people I rarely get to see.

In particular, I got to see Papa on his 65th birthday. I don't think I'm going to learn that number until 2nd grade in 6 years.

Watashi wo korosanai mono wa watashi wo tsuyoku suru

What a woman. What a weekend.

Nagymama came for a visit starting Thursday night. It was a good time hanging out with her and az anyam and az apam. Az anyam and az apam were going to go out on a date on Saturday. For some reason they wanted to do this without me.

Well, that date turned into more of a weekend trip to a spa-like place. By spa I mean hospital. Az anyam went to the ER for a bad headache, tummyache and fever. Everyone thought it was appendicitis including the ER staff. Fortunately, they did a CT scan and realized it wasn’t appendicitis before they cut her open. They finally figured out it was meningitis as she was getting very sick from it.

She was pretty out of it for a few days from the infection and the associated fever and swelling around her brain. Between a boatload of antibiotics and a dash of steroids, her fever has come down, the swelling has dissipated and she got to come home today. As fast as her health crashed, she has recovered amazingly. What a woman.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

Although I did enjoy my time with Nagymama and I have gotten to spend a whole bunch of time with Mama and Papa, I think it would have been easier to just go on a picnic.