Monday, April 18, 2011

Day 43: A Photo of Your Favorite Place in the World

It's not so much the view of for me

It's the view from San Vigilio's Hill in Bergamo.


Sunday, April 17, 2011

Scout's thoughts on...

Her name

Virginia now refers to herself as "Scout." If you ask her name, that's her response. However, she also calls herself "Winja." I think yesterday I heard her say something like "Virwinja." I guess I should stop calling her Winja. But she responds to it so well.

How Best to Help Mom Clean the Fridge

Her father's profession

Scout has long enjoyed singing "The Wheels on the Bus." Since visiting her Nonna at Christmas, her favorite verse has been the driver saying "move on back." She has a book called "My Car" about Sam, who loves is car and works as a bus driver.

She also loves to stand on the couch and look out the window whenever people leave our apartment. She especially loves watching her dad because he waves back and blows kisses. I've told her that he's going to work and I've told her that he has to catch the bus.

She seems to have combined the two. When James left yesterday, she said, "Daddy go work; drive bus." Well, at least she thinks her dad's job is cool.

The person most worthy of her attention

Potty Training

Virginia has been very interested in all things bathroom related lately, so I went ahead and bought her a little toilet. I have no expectations that she will actually give up diapers anytime soon, but I though I'd maximize on the potty excitement. When we got home, she got out the "froggy potty" and sat on it for about twenty minutes, in the middle of the living room. She produced nothing. I moved it into the bathroom, where she absolutely refuses to go anywhere near it. Whenever I ask her if she wants to use it (she starts squatting and we both know what's coming), she says no. However, she will put her dolls on it. And she occasionally hauls the potty out into the middle of the living room rug and stands in it. Good thing she never did produce anything the one time I got her to take off her diaper and sit on it.

What's important in books
Scout has long known the names of most of her books. However, I also typically read off the author because it gives me something to say as we flip through the title page. So now, she rattles off an author whenever we read a book. The problem? She seems to think Kevin Henkes wrote every book we have.

What one does while sitting on the toilet

Where she ought to sit in the car
"driver"

How to help Mom make breakfast

She eats the dry ingredients, by the handful.

Day 42: A Bad Habit You Have

Procrastinating
(obviously)

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Day 41: Whatever Tickles Your Fancy

We saw this truck one day while driving down the interstate. It's actually a hospital laundry service. However, I just love the message. How many things do we buy cheap, knowing they won't last, just to throw them away and replace them in a few weeks, months or years? Why aren't things made to last anymore? They're not even made to be repaired. Most things are made to be replaced. I realize this provides more opportunity for corporations to make money selling us junk. I do not, however, see why we as consumers put up with it. In fact, we plan for it. I want my clothes to last more than one year. I want to be using the same pots and pans I got for my wedding when my daughter got married (my mom is). I hate throwing away a whole printer/fax/copier just because one tiny piece isn't working anymore and it's impossible to fix. I do not think it's really necessary that in the nearly five years we've been married we've had to buy a new waffle iron, a new blender, a new microwave and a new toaster. I know being "green" is very trendy right now. And I think that's all fine and good. However, I wonder whether we'd have to worry so much about how biodegradable things are if we didn't throw so much away? People also recycle a lot, which I don't buy into at all. I know an environmental engineer who says it's environmentally neutral. And even if it isn't, is it really better to recycle than to simply reduce or reuse? Why have we forgotten those other two important Rs? I think we could buy less, use less, reuse more and keep using a whole lot of things if we'd only go for quality rather than low price. Maybe it's because I'm not a huge shopper, but I try to think about things long term. I'd rather pay more now than come back next year and buy it again. Sadly, I think I'm in the minority, so it's growing increasingly difficult to find anything made to last at all.