I rarely read fiction anymore.

After you’ve read numerous books by King, Koontz, Sanford or Grisham; you realize that they write the same story over and over.  Even recurring characters loose their depth and seem like nothing more than marionettes for the plot; you even note items the authors just can’t get away from (e.g. see how many novels, movies and/or tv series authored by S. King had a character by the name of Tripps…you’d be surprised).

As a result I tend towards books on business or the economy, history, science,matematics, sociology or any number of topics most likely far above my mental capabilities.  However, I have always missed that connection to characters, the world in which you are pulled by good fiction…for me, that hole is filled by the odd stories of Christopher Moore, the misadventures of Artemis Fowl and of course, Harry Potter.

So I am both excited and saddened that just now I finished the seventh and final novel.  (I’m also saddened as I’ll be a zombie at work tomorrow)

Good bye Harry and thanks JK! 

Yes, I know you’re dying to hear all sorts of cute anecdotes from our vacation, but alas, I’m only up to page 481 in HP7.

If it’s any consolation I could give a brief, daily update on the sunburn on my shoulder received…No! EARNED while on vacation.  I’m now at molting stage three. 

Brody has been a good sport about trying new foods.  Oddly enough, the kids seem reluctant to try food that most of us would consider fairly tame: Blue pepper shaped like death, no problem…meatball! Run for the hills!

So last night, it was chili.

Maura freaked out and had fruits and vegetables for dinner.  (As if that’s a problem!)  Brody had to ‘dip his toe in’, first with the meat, then the sauce, finally ending with the beans.

To his utter amazement he liked the chili…No, rather he LOVED the chili.  First he asked if he could just get a plate of kidney beans at restaurants; can we have chili tomorrow night?; then it was, ‘where is chili from?’ (we went with Texas); then he made the connection to the Restaurant Chilis and said he’d just have chili next time we were there; finally ending in what I thought was the cutest (if not oddest remark)…”When I grow up and have kids, I’m going to take them to Texas to eat chili.” 

But Dayna has had some dry skin on her face and she has been referring to it as her ‘alien skin’.  Maura came into the room and said ‘Mommy, I can see your astronaut skin.’ 

Gotta love pre-school word association. 

Took Brody to UMHS for an appointment today.  As we entered the medical campus he noted all the University of Michigan logo ‘M’s around.

He all of sudden got panicked and covered up his MSU shirt.  He was terrified that either the doctors would be offended and not like him or that they simply refuse care.

I assured him all the way in not to worry but to no avail.  He intentionally hid the graphics on his shirt; to the point that when the nurse offered him stickers, he grabbed four and covered the spartan log and the Michigan State text! 

Yes, it has been some time since I have posted; and for that I apologize.  We just returned from an eight day vacation (the primary cause for my absence) and I would usually treat you to multiple postings highlighting all the wonderful anecdotes from said vacation.

However, I’m 350 pages into Harry Potter and am terrified that somehow tv, radio or some other reader will let slip the ending. 

So once I have figured out how this all ends, I’ll be back! J 

The other day we were all getting cleaned up to go out to lunch or dinner.  Dayna walked in to consult with Maura on her outfil selection.

Maura was upset about the outfit Dayna suggested and when questioned as to the source of her displeasure; Maura responded. 

‘You look prettier than me! You always look prettier than me!’ 

There’s a compliment in there somewhere but one didn’t expect this kind of competition till Maura’s teens! 

There was also a coloring contest, so the kids colored pictures of dragons for entry. Adults had to draw their own picture. I hadn’t scanned ours before sending (see subsequent post) but Dayna and I realized that we had forgotten to put wings on our dragons. So while they are both good drawings, we may be disqualified for sending in drawings of Godzilla for a Harry Potter festival.

So now we’re back. Summer is upon us and I suspect that there will be many fun stories to share with my wife.

I’m still feeling a little oogy, but their pictures helped a lot.

Why is it that I cannot walk out of my daughter’s room without find a sticker on my foot?