Some advice

First piece of advice, based on a dream last night:

Don't go to Iraq. It's fucked up there, with the US Army reduced to fighting insurgents house to house with slingshots. If you do go, don't take your four-year old son. If you do take your four -year old son, make sure he's with you, otherwise you'll find out that something vaguely dire has happened to him--this is also the moment you discover he's along for the trip, incidentally. If your son is harmed in some way, discourage your wife from leaping onto a steam train to rush to his side if she is without a ticket, because otherwise she will be accosted by surly Iraqi women for not riding legitimately and you, her husband, will be forced to run alongside the train, beseeching your suddenly materialized guide and interpreter to help you with the oddly shaped coins in strange denominations (39?!) that you must now throw through the open window of the train compartment to your wife to pay for her ticket and arrest the onslaught of irate Iraqi widows.

Second piece of advice:

Go read Mo on Miranda July. I find much of what she says sage, although I personally am not that keen on the bite your tongue school of thought. Then again, Mo gets in fewer dustups than I, so she's perhaps onto something.

The Machine

Emmett has lately been saying that he doesn't like doing art--he's too self-conscious about it and too self-critical, which is heartbreaking to watch in a 4 and half year old.

But yesterday he treated me to this. It's a machine, which he often but not always pronounces as "bachine", for making blueberry and cranberry muffins. The little thing off to the side is the remote control used to turn it on. It combines his two passions, construction equipment and kitchen assistance into one item. Right now it is my single favorite piece of art in our house.

Today

Emmett continues to fight some kind of illness--now with blothcy rash and fever!--and I continue to need sleep.

And thus, we will spend today and tomorrow watching The Iron Giant, Toy Story 2, and The Jungle Book, all checked out from I Luv Video.

A Tale of Two Cities

Lacey on Coke Zero, Emmett on Melted Chocolate, making a pie and getting ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow.

My brother's beer drinking adventures

Can be found here.

First Bike

Just got Emmett his first bike for his bithrday this Thursday. He really enjoyed getting on it, and was more willing to give it a try at the store than I thought he might be. Thought he might get frustrated easily and not want to keep pedalling. But he kept at it. When Lacey get's back this afternoon, we're going on a ride. He looks pretty damn cute in his new flame-bedecked helmet.

Got Lacey the new Bjork and Feist albums, since she's been complaining about not having music for her car. Also got her Embroideries, one of Marjane Satrapi's books. A lazy Sunday after much business yesterday.

Emmett and Lacey, having a conversation this evening

Mama? Something was smoothing out of my bottom and what was it?

Um…I don't [want to] know. Poo-poo?

No, it was an octopus. He ate all the food. Let's lock him in jail! C'mon let's lock him up!