Observations

Observations of the two little girls i now babysit on Sunday evenings.

Older sister wants whatever younger sister has. Right now. Even if she didn't know it existed one minute ago. Takes it, holds it or uses it for a second, gives it back. Or takes it and tries to pawn something else off on little sister. Can we say dominance issues?

Little sister knows older sister will do this, and has taken to pushing older sister away any time she sees her coming. Little sister climbs on the riding toy, big sister starts walking over, little sister pushes her before she can get a good hold to pull her off.

Older sister, when so pushed, falls down and screams as if she has been killed. If she feels little sister is getting too much attention in any situation, she will run into little sister and fall over on purpose, screaming that she was pushed.

Little sister's favorite canvass for washable markers is herself.

Older sister pitches screaming fits to get her own way, and doesn't get it with me. Instead she gets told it's time to sit in the corner. Funny how the fits stop at that moment.

When told not to do something, older sister makes sure she at least tries to do it for a moment before obeying. Little sister is learning, by watching, to do the same.

When given jobs to do and kept occupied, they actually behave rather well.

We may be "washing" and "cleaning" a lot on Sunday evenings after this.


In honor of National Humor Month:

A young boy and his grandmother were at the department store where she was buying panty hose. When he saw the label that said, "Queen Size" he excitedly said, "Wow, grandma, you wear the same size as our bed!"

Boudreaux and Thibodeaux meet up on the road and Boudreaux is carrying a sack.
"Boudreaux, what you got in that sack?" asked Thibodeaux.
"I gots me some chickens!" replied Boudreaux.
"Oh, Boudreaux, me and my wife ain't had us no chicken in a long time. If I can guess how many chickens you got in that sack, can I have one?"
Boudreaux, being the neighborly person he was, responded, "Thibodeaux, if you can guess how many chickens I got in the sack, you can have both of them!"


Today is

Bonza Bottler Day

Children's Day -- Hong Kong; Taiwan

Don't Go to Work Unless it's Fun Day - we know your decision

Hug a Newsman Day -- an internet holiday, be careful, no more fiascos like the gropings in 2009, please, just a nice hug.

Independence Day -- Senegal

International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action

Matsuyama Haru Matsuri -- Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan (Spring celebrations incorporating the Matsuyama Castle festival and the Dogo Hot Springs festival)

Megalesia, a/k/a Festival of Magna Mater -- Ancient Roman Calendar (great mother festival)

National Arts Advocacy Day

National Cordon Bleu Day

National Reading a Roadmap Day -- another internet holiday, but a good one to observe

Ose Matsuri -- Ose Shrine, ShizouKa Prefecture, Japan (Unique festival in which men dressed in women's clothes dance a lively jig on board a boat afloat in the harbour which is festooned with flags and streamers)

Ramayana begins, and New Year's Day -- Hindu

School Librarian Day

St. Ambrose's Day

Swedish-American Friendship Day

Tater Day -- Benton, Kentucky

Tell a Lie Day -- the only day it is acceptable!

Victims of Violence Holy Day

Walk Around Things Day

World Rat Day -- pet rat lovers everywhere, unite and introduce your friends to your pet rats


Birthdays Today:

David Blaine, 1973
Nancy McKeon, 1966
Robert Downey, Jr., 1965
David Gavurin, 1963
Gary Moore, 1952
Christine Lahti, 1950
Craig T. Nelson, 1946
Anthony Perkins, 1932
Maya Angelou, 1928
Muddy Waters, 1915
Frances Langford, 1914
Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, 1908
John Cameron Swayze, 1906
Arthur Murray, 1895
Dorothea Dix, 1802


Today in History:

Francis Drake is knighted for completing a circumnavigation of the world, 1581
Sir Robert Walpole becomes First Lord of the Treasury of England, and is so influential in the Cabinet that he is considered the de facto first Prime Minister of England, 1721
Napoleon abdicates for the first time, 1814
Casparus van Wooden of Amsterdam patents chocolate milk powder, 1828
William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia becoming the first President of the United States to die in office and the one with the shortest term served, 1841
Bryant's Minstrels debut the song "Dixie" in a blackface minstrel show, 1859
Susanna Medora Salter is elected the first US woman mayor, in Argonia, KS, 1887
Cecil Rhodes scholarship fund is established, 1902
An earthquake in India's Kangra Valley kills 20,000, destroys most of three cities, 1905
Vitamin C was first isolated by C.C. King at the University of Pittsburgh, 1932
Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty, creating NATO, 1949
Martin Luther King, Jr., is assassinated, 1968
Dr. Denton Cooley implants the first temporary artificial heart (the patient survived for 65 hours), 1969
The World Trade Center in NYC is dedicated, 1973
Bill Gates and Paul Allen form Microsoft, 1975
Space Shuttle Challenger makes its maiden voyage into space, 1983
Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark found Netscape Communications Corporation under the name "Mosaic Communications Corporation", 1994