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We went to Alyssa’s elementary school Fall Fun Festival. It was really cool. The hayride was one of the high points–it was probably the fastest hay wagon I’ve ever ridden on. It wouldn’t have been as wild if we hadn’t been riding over (and across) ruts and holes. I thought we were going over several times, but the tractor pulled us through flawlessly (although bouncily). Good times.

I can’t even remember what Alyssa did to set Drew off. It was a few weeks ago. Whatever she did, we sent her to the other room. Drew, however, screamed in outrage and flopped on the floor. He then proceeded to kick his feet and pound his arms in the first true tantrum I’ve ever seen him perform.

Then he jumped up, and crying little angry tears, shouted “Alyssa! ALYSSA!”–(sniff)–“YOU STINK!”

Then a pause.

“Alyssa! You stink–ALL THE TIME!”

“Not just some of the time! All of the time!”

We were laughing too hard to tell him he couldn’t say such bad things to his sister. What else could we do?

And they’re mostly negative. I maintain my faith, though. Virtually everyone I know who saw The Matrix:Reloaded hated it, but I thought it was great.

Guess I’ll find out about Revolutions soon.

I just finished watching The Royal Tenenbaums. I’m at a loss to describe the film, but I really got into it. But then, I’m always into character movies. A movie could have zero plot, but if it’s about deep, engaging characters, I’m there.

I’m also at a loss to guess why this movie was in the comedy section at the video store. When I was in Play Performance in high school, we did monologues and other short scenes. Some were classed as dramatic, some as comic, and some as serio-comic–a piece with elements of the two. I guess that’s what this movie would be called, serio-comic.

Or maybe it’s just not really classifiable. That’s one of the things that make movies like this interesting to me.

[At the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall Memorial in DC, looking at the statues of Vietnam soldiers]

Drew: Why did they make the men into metal?

Aunt Lisa: They aren’t real men, Drew. They made these statues to honor the soldiers who were in the Vietnam War.

Cousin Sean (six years old): Yeah, Drew, because these are the three men who made it back alive.

So at the reunion, my sister Lisa mentioned that her five year old Megan stated how one day she’d grow up and her mommy (Lisa) would shrink down and become the child. Then Megan would take care of Lisa, like Lisa now takes care of Megan.

We remarked that several of our children have had similar ideas, and Lisa noted that she’d had the same thought when she was small–that she’d grow up and that my parents would turn into the children for our generation to take care of.

Then, with a mischievous grin, Lisa capped the conversation by mentioning that reality had proved somewhat different with our own parents and chuckling “Somehow though, I thought they’d be smaller and easier to manage by now.”

We just came back from the family reunion, a great time for all. Seven brothers had twenty grandchildren, and the great grandchildren are growing in numbers as well. Not all of them could attend, but we made a huge happy throng. Uncle Carlo and Aunt Regina put together a gathering not to be forgotten.

I can’t wait until the next one in three years.

It looks like the website is atrophying through lack of posts. It’s time to rededicate myself to this weblog. I’ll see if I can put some worthwhile material on here for the thousands–well, several people who check this thing out. Although in the end, you do these things because you have to, regardless of who reads it.

I hope you find it worthwhile to check out, though.

This little app is all I use now to update my blog–it is freakingly awesome.

On Sunday evening Alyssa turned on the TV and began to watch a documentary on the Egyptian twins who were conjoined at the head. Drew watched it with her. Denise and I weren’t sure that they should watch it, but it is real life–so we let her see the entire segment.

At dinner Drew began to ask questions. “Are they OK, Daddy?” Yes.
“Why are they together like that?” That’s the way things happen sometimes, Drew.

And then the kicker.
“Why did God make them like that, Daddy?”

It’s all part of God’s plan, Drew. Sometimes we don’t know why, but God has a plan.

They start asking the tough questions younger than you think.