Category Archives: Mr. Boy

Science Fair

We still have six five days to finish Mr. Boy’s entry in the annual school science fair. It’s voluntary for second graders like him, required thereafter. He’s doing a collection and classification, and though he has most all of his materials gathered for the subject–sharks–he needs all the time left. Turns out there are more than 360 known species, too many to even list on his display board, which would be boring anyhow. But the Web has allowed him to "collect" graphic drawings of representative members of some of the eight orders of sharks. Next problems: a creative layout and practicing his oral presentation. Next year and henceforth, experiments will be required, but collection was a good introduction to research and scientific terms. The Web offers a vast amount of ideas. Must have been a lot tougher before the Internet.

Barnes and Noble sale

Happy to see Barnes and Noble having a half-price clearance sale because I wanted to buy some classic books for Mr. B. anyway, and thus I saved a bunch of money on unabridged versions of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and the Story of King Arthur and His Knights. They’re all good. I remember them from my own childhood and, of course, actually took a  college course on Mark Twain. So I especially remember Tom Sawyer’s great trick of getting his friends to not only willingly but also happily perform for him the odious task to which he’d been set: i.e., whitewashing a fence.

Ohio State’s loss

Mr. B. decided last night just before the BCS championship game that he was for Ohio State. He drew up a little "Go Buckeyes!" poster which he would wave from time to time. Until the other OSU fell behind. For once, though, he didn’t switch loyalties to the winning team. He had to go to bed at the half because of today’s return to school after Christmas break. When I told him the final score this morning, as I was getting him up, he groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

Mr. Boy’s dictionary

Ladyequins: "I don’t know why they call them mannequins. They’re almost always ladies." See previous entries.

Happy New Year, y’all

Been an eclectic day around the rancho. Mr. B. and I enjoyed Oklahoma State’s defeat of Indiana, followed by watching his latest Laurel & Hardy flick, "Flying Deuces." New Year’s eves are restful when you’re too old and your son is too young for parties. He read a new picture book on gladiators while I read the latest Dortmunder burglary escapade, "Watch Your Back." And, while thinking of an OCS classmate’s ongoing return to Viet Nam this week, I found myself contemplating the tours offered by this San Antonio outfit that specializes in old battlefields in northern and southern I Corps. One of these days…

Xmas set-up

Took an hour last night to free RoboPanda from his box. (Deep voice intoning: "Day Four, RoboPanda Held Hostage.") Only one paper cut. Then I discovered Grammaw brought along a RoboReptile which will also need freeing this morning. We are long on robots. Neither of these fire missiles, as far as I know, nor make facsimile (or any other kind) of love. But RoboPanda has a perky voice and even tells you how to lower his/her volume ("Rub my tummy, then stroke either of my legs.") Mom is behind this one. She has more faith in toy technology than Dad. But, so far, RP is a big hit. Maybe this robo stuff really won’t be abandoned before Thursday. We shall see.

The better present

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Here at the rancho, we believe in splitting the difference, so Mr. B. will be getting both computer games and books. Merry Christmas, rare readers, and to all a good night!