Funny things lately

Over the weekend I went to a photography show at the local library and reveled in about 45 minutes of uninterrupted adult conversation. I particularly enjoyed talking to a researcher who studies ways to make residential buildings more energy efficient. In the the course of our conversation I told him a lot about the passive solar house that Dane and I rent, and described myself as a "rabid environmentalist." Shortly after the conversation ended, I went outside and climbed into my dad's giant gas-guzzling Chevy Silverado, which I had borrowed to get to town. Of course, the fellow I'd been talking to chose that moment to walk out of the library and get into his tiny Japanese car. I couldn't decide whether to hide behind the steering wheel of the truck, or beat my head into it. I settled for smiling awkwardly -- but not waving.

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Duncan and Tristan are becoming more and more independent. They love to open and shut doors, and sometimes will shut themselves in their room and play alone for 15 or 20 minutes at at time. (Of course, this never happens when I want it to.)

Duncan was shutting the door to the boys' room over and over again one morning, while Tristan and I built Lego cities around the cribs. Every time he closed the door he'd say, "Bye, bye, Mom! See you later!!" Then he'd peak his head back inside, I'd say, "Bye, Duncan!" and he'd grin. After several rounds of this, I said, "See you later, alligator! After while crocodile!"

Duncan disappeared for a moment. Then the door opened again, and he sang out, "See you later, alligator! After while, crocodile!" Then, "Bye-bye, dinosaur!" And the door slammed shut.

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The boys can also work locks on doors. I was dimly aware of this before, but it really came home to me yesterday at 11 o'clock in the morning when I found myself running circles around the outside of my house, rattling doors and windows. All locked. The boys were outside with me. But my house keys, the diaper bag, all of our food, the phone, . . . . etc., were inside.

Fortunately, my dad's truck was in the yard and the spare key was in my coat pocket. So, I was saved from doing the environmentally friendly thing -- carrying 60 lbs. of toddler 1.5 miles and 300 vertical feet to a phone at the top of the mountain. Instead, we burned some gasoline, listened to some Johnny Cash, and had a fun day with Pa.