Watch Out

Lily:  Can I have a hot chocolate?

Uncle Chris:  It's Christmas day, Lily, you can do anything you want.

... long pause ...

Lily:  Do you wish you didn't say that?

In trouble

Lily was allowed to be the Boss one day. Power went to her head. The checks are for our failures to follow her orders.

Refrigerator

Driving to Mendocino last weekend, the kids kept asking me for things, then handing them back to me, then asking for them again.  "Mom, can I have the crackers?"  "Here are the crackers Mom."  "Mom, can I have the crackers again."  "Mom, can I have the water?"  "Here's the water, Mom, and the crackers."  "Mom, I'm hungry."

Irritated, I shoved the bag of food into the back seat, proclaiming, "I am not a cupboard, or a fridge, so stop handing me the food to hold."

Molly retorted without missing a beat, "But Mommy, you are a refrigerator.  You're large, white and cold on the inside!"

Ouch.

Not quite clear on the concept

Auntie Eliza recently gave Lily a handy tip.  Namely, if you want people to give you things, it's a good idea to compliment them first.  (Like Lily needs help in the manipulation department).

Lily took this advice to heart, and tried it out immediately on Eliza.

"Liza, I really like your big feet and your colorful teeth!"

Backfire.

Safety First

I saw a fully-dressed ninja at 7am outside the gym today.  I have been watching various fully-costumed adults stream by my window at work all morning.  I began to wonder.

It's the Fanime-con convention (for fans of Japanese anime). Interestingly, the number one tip on the convention website is as follows:

1.  Remember to BATHE. By the end of the day, in crowds of that many people, no one walks away smelling or looking their best despite all the work of the morning. Showers refresh and cleanse us, and both are necessary to remain your best throughout FanimeCon. In relation to that, deodorant should be applied daily, and everyone should have a change of clothes for every day they are attending.

And I always thought the rule was SAFETY FIRST.

Grampa

Himes M. Silin, of Erie and Pittsburgh, Pa., age 95, died at home in Erie. He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Marilyn Lashinger Silin; two daughters, Pamela and Patrick Palmer and Wendy Kopplin; six grandchildren, Amanda and Nandu Madhava, Emily and Shaun Keller, Eliza and Aaron Holmes, Will Kopplin, Niall and Kristie Kopplin, and Jane Palmer; six great-grandchildren, Molly and Lily Keller, Sophie, Colm, and Jamie Holmes, Asha Madhava; a brother-in-law, Donald and Genrose Lashinger; sisters-in-law; Margaret Glover and Kathleen Chulick, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends. Mr. Silin was preceded in death by his parents, Sarah and Nathan Silin, and siblings, I.J. Silin, Abraham Silin, Lottie Levi, Brina Schwartz and Basha Silin. A graduate of Strong Vincent High School, he attended Gannon University and University of Pittsburgh. He proudly served as Captain with the Anti-Tank Company, 302nd Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division during World War II. He was awarded a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding heroism for his unit, European African Middle East Ribbon with four Battle Stars for Northern France, Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central Europe, and the French Legion of Honor Medal. Mr. Silin spent his career of sixty years with Lincoln Financial Group in Erie and Pittsburgh. He was active in many civic and professional organizations on local, state and national levels. In addition, he was CEO of Erie Electric Manufacturing Corporation. He was a kind and gentle man with a great sense of humor and will be missed. Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. at the Burton Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 602 West Tenth Street, Erie, Pa., with Rabbi John Bush officiating. Friends will be received one hour prior to the service. Military Burial will be held Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, Pa. Please meet at the cemetery. Reception immediately following at Southpointe Golf Club. Memorials to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 1001 State Street, Suite 1400, Erie, PA 16501 or North Hills Community Outreach, 1975 Ferguson Rd., Allison Park, PA 15101.

Published in the Erie Times-News on May 16, 2010

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Here are some new and upcoming businesses in the Bay Area (according to fictitious name statements published in the legal newspaper):

Bay Area Violators M.C. located in East Palo Alto;

Hookers Happy Hounds which I don't believe to be associated with Professional Dog Productions;

Bubble Fork, Crank Lab, and Gruntled Manufacture in San Francisco.

And my favorite: Broke-Ass Stuart.

Identity Crisis

I read the Recorder, a legal newspaper to keep up with recent decisions and goings on the legal world. But I enjoy the public notices. Here are a few recent name changes:

Jeremy Lee Wheeler became Staar Laselle Adonya;

Aaron Martinez is now known as Arath Arellano;

Michael Michelle Raquel Taylor should be referred to as Sunshine Lovelee Peterson.

I want one

Because I think I'd enjoy inflating it. Particularly if I were in a middle seat on a crowded flight. Worth the $29.95, I think.

I would probably have to get the Head Spa Massager too. If I'm going to fly in comfort, no reason to hold back.

I'm considering getting one

Who wouldn't want "the sensation of hundreds of fingers simultaneously massaging your scalp."

Especially since it's "easy to use while at your office desk, on the morning commute, or while enjoying your evening television program."

Plus, I think I'd make a lot of new friends if I got one.

First Grade Tragedy

Lily burst into tears the other night. Little boys in her first grade class had teased her that afternoon saying that another little boy was in love with her. And he wasn't even in her class. And he didn't even know her so how (*sob*) could he love her? (*tragic sob*).

But the capper was yet to come.

The new boy in her class (he just moved to Berkeley a few weeks ago) said something even worse.

She was too embarassed to even say it out loud.

I convinced her that it was always okay to say embarassing things to your mom, and that she could whisper it in my ear if it helped.

She did.

"Mommy, he said he wanted to marry me. And he said it out loud. And I think people heard him."

She flung herself on my lap, shaking with sobs.

"WHY WOULD HE SAY THAT??!!"