The Zoo and My Grandpa

I took my Grandpa Johnston to the zoo today! He's visiting from the Chicago area because it's cold and snowy there and I'm here.

Before Dad can jump in with an editor's note nitpicking the details, yes, he is actually Mom's Grandpa Johnston, which makes him my Great-Grandpa Johnston. Or G-G-Pa as Mom sometimes says. But really, that's quite a mouthful for everyone, and so I just call him Grandpa. All my Grandpas have different last names anyway, so why not?

Anyway, I took him to the zoo today and showed him around. Mom and Grandma Petrow came along too, since I can't drive. (Yes, my Grandma, who is Grandpa Johnston's daughter. What is this, some kind of genealogy blog?!?)

We had lots of fun showing Grandpa around. He'd never heard a lion roar up close before, and man, were they putting on a show for him. Wonder if they thought Grandpa was a threat to take their women or something? Because he could - he's a really cool old guy! He gets up and walks a couple miles every morning, which means that he's in better shape at 88 years old than about 60% of the country, regardless of age.


We also went and saw the flamingos, and I took some time to explain to Grandpa everything I knew about them. He said that they have loons and bald eagles at his lake house in Minnesota, but that's not quite the same, so he leaned over and listened patiently.

It was a really fun day!

Stop and Smell the Roses

Sometimes, you've just got to stop and smell the roses.

Or the grass, as the case may be.


Just a friendly reminder from your neighborhood philosopher toddler.

My Calamity-Filled Life

You might think from reading my little stories here that I have a pretty good life. Heck - there are even pictures showing me having a pretty good life. Going to the zoo. Going to China.

But let me tell you - there are a heck of a lot of little calamities in my life too. Which I've been trying to point out to Mom and Dad here lately, but they just don't seem to be getting it. Maybe I'm trying too hard?

Is this making any sense? Let me try a few examples?

- Dropping some cereal over the side of the tray on my high chair. "Uh-oh"
- Putting on my shirt. "Uh-oh"
- Taking off my shirt. "Uh-oh"
- Petting Josie (the dog) too hard. "Uh-oh"
- Walking through the front door. "Uh-oh".
- Standing up under the kitchen table and bonking my head. "Uh-oh".
- Eating a blueberry. "Uh-oh"
- Finishing my milk. "Uh-oh"

You see what I mean? It's tough being me