riverboat

Today, while pushing Raisin around the shopping cart at the store, he kept saying what I thought was, "I want to go on a river boat." I quickly assumed it was something our pal Calliou said (or whined) in some episode where Calliou imagined he was involved in some elaborate riverboat gambling drama. So, I said what any good mother would say, "Mmm, hmm. A riverboat? That's nice." He looked a little frustrated and tried to annunciate a little more. "Yep. Got it...a riverboat. I wish we could go on a riverboat too." Finally, as we approached the checkout lane, he said it again. "I want to put it on the conveyor belt!"

River boat, conveyor belt -- it's all the same.

Stupid mama.

a boy and his (reluctant) dog

He is not amused.

little mr. sunshine

Okay, now I got my pictures to post, but they're posting like this:

it's always a good idea to wash your hands before eating

operation calliou phase-out

The little boy has grown quite fond of the show Calliou. And quite frankly, that Calliou kid can be a whiney little brat. The first few episodes we watched seemed innocent enough. But then the whining started.

And you know how they say that kids are very influenced by television? By golly, they're right! Ever since Elian saw the episode where Calliou expressed his displeasure in something by saying, "I don't like (INSERT WHATEVER CALLIOU DIDN'T LIKE HERE)!!!" he's decided he doesn't like, well, pretty much EVERYTHING!!

Sure, we've picked up a few good things from the show and have used them to our advantage. Like the episode where Lucky the horse eats some carrots. "Hey buddy, why don't you try to eat some of your carrots like Lucky..." (munch, munch, munch). And there's this one, "Calliou sleeps like a big boy -- I bet you can sleep like a big boy too!"

But it seems like the bad is outweighing the good so we've decided to cut him off. We're trying to phase him out gradually so he doesn't notice. We try to give the other shows we've saved on TIVO the hard sell, "How about Bob the Builder?... or Clifford the Big Red Dog...or what about CURIOUS GEORGE -- I wonder what antics that crazy monkey's up to today..." Usually it works. Usually.

We anticipate Operation Calliou Phase-out to be complete in a few weeks.

please stand by

I've been experiencing technical difficulties with Blogger. I can't seem to post a picture to save my life. Crap.

their aim's going to have to get a lot better before I move to the suburbs

We're in the process of getting new windows installed upstairs. The other day the window guy had this to report:

Window Guy: "Do you know that you have a little hole in your siding?"

Me: (thinking) "Oh, please don't be termites... please don't be termites" (note: we have aluminum siding)

Window Guy: "Yeah, it's a very small hole."

Me: (thinking) "Oh crap, it's mice...yes, special aluminum burrowing mice..."

Window Guy: "I hate to be the one to tell you guys this..."

Me: (thinking) "No wait, it's carpenter ants...We've got carpenter ants!!!"

Window Guy: "...but I know a lot about guns and ammunition and I'm pretty sure it's a bullet hole. Probably a 45 millimeter shotgun"

Me: (thinking) "PHEW!!! It's only a bullet hole."