Obsolete

This is the kiddo's T alphabet block.

This is a Duplo window.

The kiddo calls the window a "house," presumably because it opens and shuts like a door.  She also calls the picture on the alphabet block a house.

Present continuous active indicative

The kiddo is in a present participle phase. She likes:
Runnin'
Walkin'
Jumpin'
Eatin'
Sippin'
Zippin'
Swimmin'
and
Dancin'

I love you, too.

Bedtime with a 1.5 year old:

Me: Goodnight.
Her: Night-night.
Me: Can I have a kiss?
Her, tearfully: No way.

Worst nightmare

The kiddo was playing with my last remaining film canister (I figure I need to keep one for history class, some day). She was in the living room, I was unloading the dishwasher, and then she came into the kitchen.

The film canister was full of water, and she was drinking out of it.

It had to have been toilet water.

Review: Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon: Gripping Accounts of All Known Fatal Mishaps in the Most Famous of the World's Seven Natural Wonders

Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon: Gripping Accounts of All Known Fatal Mishaps in the Most Famous of the World's Seven Natural Wonders by Michael P. Ghiglieri

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Fascinating, but poorly edited. I saw a copy of this book in a shop at Grand Canyon and thought it looked interesting. Indeed, it was. In addition to descriptions of deaths in the canyon, the authors have also included a few survival stories. I particularly enjoyed the odd tales in the chapter on freak accidents. Unfortunately, it is not that well organized and riddled with typos.

Would be an instructive read for those planning trips into Grand Canyon.



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Review: How to Talk Minnesotan: A Visitor's Guide

How to Talk Minnesotan: A Visitor's Guide by Howard Mohr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Is this book funny to non-Minnesotans? Probably not, but it is a heckuva book. You might think it's just a little different, but a guy could do a lot worse when selecting reading material. You bet.



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Review: How to Cook Everything: The Basics: All You Need to Make Great Food -- With 1,000 Photos

How to Cook Everything: The Basics: All You Need to Make Great Food -- With 1,000 Photos by Mark Bittman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The full-length How to Cook Everything is my go-to cookbook, but I really enjoyed browsing its shorter, illustrated sibling. Unlike the monster original, it would be possible (and very interesting) to cook through this version. Which I would love to do.

Some of these are the same recipes as the other; some are a little different. Mr. Bittman still seems to think you can make barbeque sauce without a sweetener (nope, not gonna work).

Great, illustrative photos. This would be a perfect learning-to-cook book.



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Review: House of Earth

House of Earth by Woody Guthrie

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I picked this up on the new acquisitions shelf at the library because it was by Woody Guthrie. I'd just been reminiscing about learning "This Land is Your Land" in elementary music class.

I don't feel like I wasted my time with this, but I wouldn't re-read it. It was Steinbeckian with a dash of beat poet (not my cup of tea), plus a really long, awkward sex scene in the first chapter (not even my cup of lukewarm water). I can totally see why the author never got it published during his lifetime.

In the pro column, the setting and characterizations were vivid and life-like. The wide-open, lonely Texas plain is beautifully drawn.

Bottom line: I can't recommend this book, but I will be checking out more of Woody Guthrie's writing.




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You might live with a classicist if...

The kiddo gets into something she shouldn't.

T.G.: Nope, sorry, babe. Here, you can play with the Eclogues.

Review: Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A beautiful stand-alone, illustrated edition of the Robert Frost poem. Very nice.



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