The singing dog

We first noticed that our dog liked to sing when we were having a birthday party and she joined along in the song. Since then, whenever someone sings in the house, she does too.

Today we were driving to get our Christmas tree at a farm and we started singing Christmas carols in the car, and so did the dog. She loves to sing and I truly think she believes she is a child. She sure acts like one.

I'm a kept man...but not how you think...

I hate my cat... and I think she's mental.

Every morning this skinny creature invades my sleep. This morning (Saturday) she woke me up at five with her incessent high pitched 'meeew, meew,' right in my ear.

We have this pattern you see. I get up at six and she yells at me and bugs me until I go feed her. Then, I get to her bowl and she always has food. She just wants me to pet her as she eats. When I leave in disgust, she jumps down and starts the process all over again. This is why I'm a kept man.

Readers are probably wondering why I don't leave her in a field (my wife's suggestion) somewhere. I would except I couldn't handle the guilt of abandoning this helpless little crazy being, and enduring the tears of my little girl, who loves her.

So, I go on each morning, following this insane routine.

I have to confess something though. This morning I chased her around the room violently whispering obsenities in the dark and trying to kick her. Will let you know how this turns out.

Off the charts!

Marcus is off the charts. We're dealing with a child who has an adult sense of humor, uses large words correctly in conversations, can play chess, and is beginning to read. In addition to all of that, he's a couple grades ahead in math. What's amazing about all of this is that he's only 5, and he's been this way in many respects, since he was 2. The kid counts by tens. He can add and subtract. He counts higher than any kid in his class and knows about money denominations etc. Jen and I are just amazed and wondering where he came from.

Tonight while I was getting him down to sleep he said, "You know what, Dad?"

"No. What?"

"Knowing yourself is more important than money."

"Really. Where did you hear that?"

"Nowhere. I just thought it."

"Interesting. Tell me what that means. Why is it more important to know yourself?"

"Well, you can die, and money is just for buying things."

"Yes, so your life is more important because you can love and have fun and do things, but money doesn't buy you happiness?"

"Hmm mmm."

"Very cool, Marcus. Have a good sleep, buddy."

On the other side of things, Jen and I are a little concerned about OCD in him. He exhibits some ritual behavior. He's going through a lot right now, and is pretty advanced for his age. It's hard for him to fit in with his peers too. Jen saw him at school playing on the swings by himself recently. She asked him why he wasn't playing with his friends. "They were playing tag. I don't get that game." He also has a lot of fears right now. He's going through a huge growth spurt and Jen and I are just trying to be there to support him. Having a gifted kid is going to bring its challenges, to be sure.

What kids say

Nate got his first zit today....Named it alfred.

Marcus created a new word: Shastabollista. It's apparently a projectile, like an arrow being shot out of a cannon or something.

Liese lost two teeth this week. The first one fell down the drain and was lost. She wrote a note to the tooth fairy explaining the situation. She still got two dollars.

The kids captured a hornet today. Named him Harold. They plan to kill him tomorrow. The offending bee is guilty of ... well, being a scary...bee. The sentence is death.