Maniac Mansion of Mud

Power, more power.

Sometimes I worry that Zach is going to grow up to be the next Christopher Walken character or some other Bond villain. During my long stretches on the road, I envision my parting words to him as he goes out into the world: "I had better not ever see you on America's Most Wanted." This is such a romantic vision of your child running off to join the circus or a corporation. Is there a difference?

No, I figure Zach will be the kind of villain living under the radar... or as a family man. Anything can happen. As for now, Zach must settle with being the charming little butt he is. These are just future concerns, and let's live in the present, shall we?


It was Nude-Mud-Day this afternoon, which followed from the Nude-Mud-Evening yesterday. These are precious moments in the life of a young boy, given society's frowning upon Nude-Mud-Days for ages much past 6 or 7. Certainly, society must frown upon defecating in the middle of an open field as Zach managed to do yesterday. He then returned to the porch walking on all fours like a dog and demanded wipe-down service.

How precious.


Before breakfast this morning, he tried sneaking outside.

"Where are you going?" I asked.
"To find my poop," he declared.
"I don't think so."

Frankly, this isn't the first time, and it needs to be the last. No more bush-bathroom adventures unless we're camping. It may be horse country, but still, there needs to be some standard. We're not dirt people.

The photographer is hoping there are no other critters in that thar hole.

Kid Gets a Shot

Yesterday, Zach visited the doctor because an ear infection—his first—was creating a huge lump behind the jaw. As expected, the wait was long, so I brought his favorite book about planets and the forever-lost nerdy explorer, Waldo.

Zach loves the doctor. He loves the attention—the exam, the stethoscope, standing on the scale. This time, we feared, it would not be fun. They said he'd be getting a shot right into the leg meat. Most vaccines aren't too bad, but antibiotic shots? Ouch! They go deep.

Yes, he cried, but the boy took it and gave a triumphant thumbs-up afterward.
A treat was in order for weathering such torture. Chocolate candies and toy cars fit settled the debt nicely and once again, we were loved.

Kid happy

Now he's pissed.

Me

I've decided that I've have become a character from a Rand and Robyn Miller game for children. The back story is about a mysterious teddy bear named Spelunx who employs the young Seudo to build him an ultimate toaster for the Great Games. During the event, Spelunx saves Seudo from falling and they become lifetime friends. They go on to build a cave kingdom in the mountains and a rocket to explore the solar system.

Bob & I
(©Brøderbund (now ©Cyan))

Somehow, this bizarre story is mine. I, too, have a partner, Bob. He's like a teddy bear... that is, he's part of the "bear" community. As in the story, we are some years apart in age. We also have a son named Zach. I like to say that Bob saved me from being a kid my whole life. What a guy!