I
t just isn't right that Hannah has to wear a bow in her hair when she goes out in public in order to avoid being mistaken for her alter-ego, Henry R. Dellon.
Good grief, does a baby girl have to dress like a delicate pink princess to be recognized?? Annie and Tanner, do you call Miles "Millie Jane" when he's mistaken for a girl?
We tried a little experiment to see if feminizing a hairstyle really does make a difference in gender recognition. Here's the result--YOU decide!
...if you're young at heart.
The words to that lovely old Frank Sinatra tune might be going through your head right now if you happened to catch a few minutes of Friday's Good Morning America. One of the segments was a clip from a documentary featuring the musical stylings of Young@Heart. They're not your average rock group, punk or otherwise, but they're a joy to watch. Check out their rendition of Staying Alive and other songs on YouTube, then do some web searching for interviews and such. It's worth the time. Miles, I think you might be in their movie poster (see "O-Town Easter" entry for photos of Miles, similarly attired).
What's happening during April? I'm wondering
about this myself.
Here's a list of dates to remember (or not):
April 1: April Fool's Day (no kidding)
April 2: Hannah's 10-month birthday
April 5: Merry Lundby's birthday. Merry is a friend from days of yore. She and her mom, Gladys, share a birthday, only Gladys--
her children referred to her as "Happy Bottom" (Get it? Glad ass...)--
is older.
April 7: Angie goes back to work after spring break today. Teresa has interview #2 for a new job.
April 8: Aunt Mare's birthday
April 15: Pay your taxes, or else
April 17: Nephew/Cousin Matt's 21st birthday
April 18: Uncle Mike's birthday (also Conan O'Brien's)
April 21: Charlie, Charlotte Bronte would be 192 today.
April 22: Earth Day (Uranus Day is in July this year)
April 23: Miley's 5-month birthday; Shakespeare's 444th
April 25: This would have been Grandma Bene's 83rd
birthday.
April 27: . . . - - - . . . Samuel Morse's 217th
Other birthdays or important dates to add to the list? Send 'em my way.
Where did everybody go?
We miss the entire crowd.
Love, Mom/Grandma/Jill and Dad/Grandpa/Larry/Paco
Any and all St. Peterites who are bloggers will surely have an entry today commemorating the March 29, 1998, tornado that played Tiddlywinks with our little town. It's windy this afternoon but a clear and dry day. Ten years ago the tropical, un-Minnesota-like March weather set the stage for weeks, months, and even years of misery for some residents.
For posterity--or at least for as long as this blog is up and running--we were in the basement when the storm hit. "We" included Dad/Larry and me, Perry (Annie's pet parakeet), Charlie (just home for spring break), and Annie (just back from a Project Close-Up trip to Washington, D.C., and planning to go on a date with Tanner that evening). We watched KEYC TV weather radar show the tornado cells creeping along Highway 99, and tried to fool ourselves into thinking St. Peter would be spared. Not so. Elisabeth and one of her med school friends rushed to St. Peter after hearing the news, and because Elisabeth's driver's license had our home address, the two of them were able to get past the police checkpoint and into town. Coincidentally, all three of our kids are at home today, as are Tanner, Angie, Hannah, and Miles. Evan hung back in North Carolina, because duty called. We were fortunate to sustain only minimal damage to our house, but we lost most of the trees in the back yard. Small potatoes compared to some of our friends and neighbors, including the Grimmius family, whose home was a total loss. Don't worry, Miles. They rebuilt so there would be a place for you to visit...which you are doing today!
The Gustavus tornado commemoration website has pictures and video for anyone who is interested. And, if you prefer a lighter touch, here's the tornado souvenir my brother Mike made for us back in '98.
Easter Sunday in O-Town...a quiet, snowy day. We had a happy and fun afternoon, with Annie and Miles playing hostess and host. Tanner was on his way to Virginia for work, and we missed him. Auntie Angie and Uncle Charlie brought a kickin' spinach salad, Annie made cooked carrots and a delicious lemon blueberry cake, we brought a couple of small pork loins to grill, and GG'pa Charlie brought goodies from the Spring Valley Bakery. Yum! I think it's about time for a piece of frosted cinnamon bread. **Note to Tanner: There's a small chance you'll find crescent doughnuts in the freezer at home when you return. A small chance.
The highlight of the day was a Skype session with Evan, Elisabeth, and Hannah. GG'pa Charlie looked great on camera and he loved being able to see two great grandchildren simultaneously, one in person and one virtual. Hannah was blockaded by a stool so she wouldn't climb on the laptop computer. Little miss eager wanted to climb right through the screen. If only that were possible!
Here's Miley, napping on GG'pa Charlie,
not caring much about anything except catching some zzz's.
And here's Aunchie, the Easter Egg Hunt winner. 
Hey Mr. Mizzle, how's the schizzle? You got da hat...
...and da way kool shades, yo.
Flyin' is my new thang, baby, and Uncle Charlie is my co-pilot.
Bald is beautiful. It says so on my shirt.
Good grief, does a baby girl have to dress like a delicate pink princess to be recognized?? Annie and Tanner, do you call Miles "Millie Jane" when he's mistaken for a girl?
We miss the entire crowd.
We've had fun reading Tickle Tickle (Helen Oxenbury), Baby Says Peekaboo (DK Press), and Bounce (Doreen Cronin). Miles noticed right way that Bounce was written by someone who has the same first name as his other grandma. He's a smart little guy.
Annie came home for lunch to make sure Miles did his leg-lift workout for the day.
Here's Miley, napping on GG'pa Charlie,
And here's Aunchie, the Easter Egg Hunt winner. 
Hey Mr. Mizzle, how's the schizzle? You got da hat...
...and da way kool shades, yo.
Flyin' is my new thang, baby, and Uncle Charlie is my co-pilot.
Bald is beautiful. It says so on my shirt.
