Conversations

Life has really been screaming along lately.  Good, bad, and neutral, there's so much happening.  At night my brain feels like it had a big steak, potato, and salad for dinner, then decided pie and cake sounded good, too. 

I think I wrote about our month without running water, Tristan's ear infections, etc.  I haven't written about the beach trip that was cram-packed with pneumonia, bronchitis, vomiting, and diarrhea.  So, here goes:  "We went through TUNNEL!!  We stayed in BEACH HOUSE!!  We rode on FER-RY!! We saw CRABS!  WE flew KI-ITES!! Wind hurt our ears!!" And: "Oh, no!  I poo-ooped!"  (crying) "I pooped again!  Change my diaper . . ." (more crying).  Both boys were very sick, and I was anxious and occasionally bitchy. 

A week or so after we got back from the beach, everyone was finally healthy.  Then there was a conference, a heat wave, a derecho, a week without power, and a grant proposal deadline.  And Tristan started sleeping in his big-boy bed.  Same old, same old.  And then some cheerful revision of history:  "We go back to beach house??  Please?  Drive through tunnel?  Have fun?"  Umm, yeah.  Maybe when you're 16, kids. 

But actually, we are having fun.  Even with life tearing past like a 75 mile-per-hour wind.  We may have to hide in the basement, but we get to light candles and sing really loud, too.

Anyway, here are some random things that have come out of our mouths in the midst of the chaos:

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Duncan, eating peanut butter: "I like peanut butter.  It's brown.  Tristan, you eat coco-wheat at Pa's?"

Tristan: "Yeah!  I eat coco-wheat with Pa!  You like coco-wheat?"

Duncan: "No, it's too brown for me."

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Dane, wading slowly over slick stones in knee-deep water:  "I'm afraid I would drop one of them."

Me, laughing, wading quite quickly, and carrying Duncan:  "I've fallen with them a few times.  It's no big deal -- when you fall your instincts take over the and kid ends up on top!"

Dane: "I don't want to injure myself saving the kid, either!"

Duncan: "Give me to Dad!!  I trust Dad!!"

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 Tristan, in the morning:  "I woke up!  I'm in my big-boy bed!  I'm getting out!  I'm opening the door!  I opened the door!  Mom!  I came out!"

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Tristan: "Cook me noodles, Mom!"

Me: "I can't cook noodles right now, the power is out and I haven't started a fire."

Tristan: "Make me toast?"

Me: "No, remember the toaster needs power, too."

Tristan:  "No POW-er.  No microwave?"

Me: "No microwave."

Tristan:  "Freezer not work?"

Me: "No."

Tristan: "Lights not work?"

Me: "No."

Tristan:  "No power.  Trees fall down!  Break lines!"

Duncan: "Trees fall down!!  No POW-er!"

Tristan: "No power!  Pink yogurt?"

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Duncan, because "Lola" was playing in the car:  "NOOOOO!  Take this CD out!!  Listen to Paul Simon!!!"

Me, turning the music up and yelling:  "This is the KINKS!!  We like the Kinks!!"

Duncan, two bars into another song:  "Not this CD!!!  I want PAUL SIMON!!"

Me, turning up the music:  "This is Rodrigo y Gabriella.  They are awesome!"

CD player:  Jefferson Airplane

Duncan: "NooOOO.  PAUL SIMON!"

CD player:  REM

Duncan: "Paul Simon!  Please?"

CD player: Simon and Garfunkle

Duncan: "Nooo!  I want PAUL SIMON!"

Me: "This is Paul Simon with Art Garfunkle."

Tristan: "No GAR-Funk-el!"

CD player: "Homeless"

Duncan: "This not Paul Simon!!  Want REAL Paul Simon!"

And so on.

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Duncan, pointing to his diaper rash with total sincerity:  "Mom, kiss my butt, please."

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Me, talking cheerfully to a collaborator:  "The last time I thought I had things under control the sky turned green and glass started flying through the air."