Parental Reminders

My kids got the sniffles so we're trying to get them to dress warmly, eat their vitamin C chewables, and wash their hands thoroughly. It's a matter of constantly reminding them to do this and that, especially washing their hands thoroughly with soap instead of just getting their hands wet momentarily. I think constant parental reminders help kids learn. Otherwise, a lesson merely goes in one ear and out the other.

Writing History

I am reading a book on how writing began. Most people think writing began with hieroglyphics. But writing actually began with numbers, according to the author. From pictorial representations came our system of writing. This is an interesting thesis. It sounds logical and credible. It makes sense that humans counted using numbers and from there developed more complex writing systems.

Seasonal Adjustments

I rolled up the badminton net in our backyard to prepare for fall and winter. The seasons are changing. The weather is getting colder and wetter. There might still be a few warm days left, but these will become rare. Humans for countless generations have adjusted to the changing of the seasons. They have noted the difference in the seasons and adjusted their lives to respond effectively to the seasonal changes. We continue to adjust.

Sugarless

I looked around for some ice cream for tonight's after-dinner dessert and found a variety including some without sugar replaced by Splenda. I initially thought the sugarless ice cream was a good choice. But then, I thought about Splenda and other sugar replacements and how healthy these sugar alternatives are. I'm always wary of something too good to be true, and I wondered if "sugarless" food are too good to be true. In the end, I bought some yogurt blend ice cream with the least amount of sugar.

Community Festival

There was a festival at the Uwajimaya store today with food and vendors and singers. It was a nice community event where adults and kids could enjoy the various festival events. These events add to the "livability" of a place and enriches the neighborhood.

Comic Books

I recall growing up reading comic books by Marvel and DC Comics. They told great stories with superheroes such as Thor, the Hulk, Spider-Man, Daredevil, AquaMan, Dr. Doom, the Silver Surfer, the Justice League, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and more. Now, I think comic books are called young animation books, and many of these superheroes have been turned into blockbuster films.

Doing Some Painting

I spent the morning finishing painting the outdoor play structure before summer ends and the rains come. I noticed that most home outdoor play structures with wood are not painted. But I felt I needed to paint mine because I bought it used with some wood pieces rotting away. Now I feel somewhat prepared for the onset of winter.

A Friendly Social

I had a wonderful time with others at a small get-together tonight at a home with a back deck that looked out over tall trees. We enjoyed pizza and local beer and chatted about this and that including the weather in Phoenix, swimming in the Willamette River, rock climbing, sprain ankles, life in Arkansas, the safety of trucks, and the best type of beers.

The Aviator

I am finishing up watching The Aviator DVD about Howard Hughes. I thought I would not be that interested in the movie, but I actually enjoy the movie a whole lot. I think it is because the movie talks about little known aspects of Howard Hughes. Also, the acting is great and the screenwriters did a good job. So it is a fine movie.

Modern Lights

After work tonight, I walked into a totally dark parking lot because the lights were out. It was completely dark. I could hardly see my car and ended up trying to open the door of a wrong car. I finally found my car and got into it. This shows how dependent we are on modern technology such as electric lighting. Without modern technology, we become helpless.

A Good Cause

My wife and daughter walked in the Portland Komen Race for the Cure to do their part to find a cure for breast cancer. They left early for downtown Portland to join in with the thousands of other participants. This is a wonderful chance for people to join together for a good cause.

Friendship Reunion

My wife and I had a great time tonight celebrating with all of our friends at a wedding dinner. It was wonderful seeing our friends who got married, and seeing all our other friends in a joyful get-together. We do not see each other as often as we wish because of kids, busy work schedules, and everything else that makes up a busy life. So time available to come together for friendship reunions are times to be treasured.

For the Love of Books

My kids were reading astronomy and science books and were enchanted by them. They discussed with each other what they were learning and were so entranced in their discussion that they did not hear me tell them several times that we were leaving for dinner. I could not get angry at them for being so taken up with reading books, so I just waited and told them again it was time for dinner.

Winter Ills

It seems that the swine flu is getting closer and closer with each new reports. They say it will be worse when winter arrives and school kids get sick. I hope the new vaccines arrive soon and are effective. In the meantime, we have to wash our hands, stay home if sick, and just be careful.

Types of Milk

We are trying different kinds of milk for our kids. My son used to drink a lot of soy milk. But I read some reports suggesting too much soy can affect a person's hormones. There are alternatives such as almond milk and rice milk. Of course, there is regular cow's milk.

Self-Sufficient

My daughter wanted spaghetti again, so I said yes. My son wanted to help me cook the spaghetti, so I said yes. He helped me break the noodles in half and then put them in the pot of water. When it was time to eat, they both dished out their own amount of spaghetti to eat. Later, she refilled her own cup of milk. He refilled his own cup of water. I am so glad they are becoming self-sufficient.

Taking Things

I just heard a news report about a thief stealing diamonds from a diamond store. The video shows a person wearing a baseball cap walking out with the stolen diamond. What brazen action this is. It is regrettable a person must feel the need to steal the hard work and efforts of another.

Volunteering to Help

I took advantage of the sunny weather this weekend to paint the house, patch the roof, and basically get the house ready for the winter season. As I began raking the leaves, my kids wanted to help. I said okay to let them be part of the the raking team. In any case, I think it is a good idea to let kids help out when they actually volunteer to help. I wonder if this sort of volunteerism will occur during their teen years. I hope so.

Doing Something

My daughter just cut her long hair to send to Locks of Love, an organization that cleans and modifies the hair to give to young cancer victims without hair. This is a great idea. I see this as an example of the "good" side of human nature. There are enough examples of the "bad" side. It is heartening to know there are people out there who still care about others and will try to do something for them.

Tiny Bowling

Now that summer is ending, the bowling center I took my kids to have ended its reduced prices for kids. So we go bowling less often now. That's too bad--my kids really enjoyed bowling. But as an alternative, the kids now bowl with a tiny toy bowling set complete with a little bowling ball and little pins.

Full Schedule

I am again thinking about kids' schedules in modern society. Some say that parents nowadays pack too much into their kids' schedules. My kids just went through summer and they did swim and play soccer among other things, but I don't think they were too highly regimented. I realize, though, that this could happen to some kids. Maybe the solution is to have a balance where some events are scheduled, but also scheduled within the schedule is "free" time or "play" time or just good ol' "let kids be kids" time.

Measuring Cup

My son likes drinking from a measuring cup. He enjoys drinking from a cup that measures the amount of water or milk in the cup. He will drink, then measure, then drink, and so on. I'm fine with all this. I suppose he is learning how to measure liquid amounts.

Lullabies

I am looking at a Traditional Lullabies CD I used to play when my kids were babies. I used the CD to try to lull my babies to sleep during those days as a new parent when I was sleep starved. Now the CD just sits on the CD rack, a reminder of those earlier parenting days. Now the kids are bigger and in school. How time flies.

Back to School

The kids start school tomorrow (right after Labor Day). I'm sure this is a relief for many parents after spending the entire summer with the kids. Such time is well spent when used to create family time together. But kids also need teaching and instruction so back to school they go.

Lesson Imparted

I read my kids a bedtime story about a tortoise giving up its shell for speed and then realizing it needed the shell for protection. I think the lesson is that what we sometimes think of a hindrance is really a benefit, or that what is best is not always speed. Either way, I like little lessons from these bedtime stories that can be imparted to children.

Summer at the Beach

My family and I went to Seaside today for a family trip to the coast before summer ended. While it rained in Portland, it was warm and dry at the coast. What a wonderful day. We walked on the beach, played at Funland, and ate home-made ice cream at the ice cream shop.

Old Tunes

I sang the old tunes to old television series like Batman and Spiderman, and my kids were greatly amused. Somehow, I was able to recall the old tunes after all these years. I guess I enjoyed the old shows so much they remain imprinted in my memory.

New Computer

I recently saw a new type of computer screen that is wider and thus allows one to see two pages of a document. I thought this would be very helpful to a person writing a paper. I'm sure the new computer and screen could do much more, although at times I wonder how much of the new features a user actually uses. Perhaps most of these new features are never used because a person has developed habits that are hard to break.

Crossword

My kids like doing crossword puzzles. One workbook they are using is Garfield's Word Seeks. I am happy with the kids spending time doing these word games because I think they learn something about words in the process.

Science Class

My kid went to a summer science class and was very interested in the science projects dealing with carbon dioxide, water vapors, and other scientific processes. Kids should be taught science. This helps them understand the world in which they live.