Reaction from Home

Well, the first verdicts are in on the new family blog, and the reactions are mixed. My mother is still referring to the boy as "that little creature." Don't know what that's about, but Landy doesn't seem to mind. He's been spending a lot of time gumming the windowsill lately because he says it's nice and cool. Lori doesn't stop him because she says it's less dusting for her.

In local news, apparently most of Saipan's fire hydrants don't work anymore. Luckily, as Lori noted, we're close enough to the ocean that if we catch on fire, we'd be able to make it to the water in time to put our clothes out. Our possessions are doomed, though. So be it. All is ethereal.

The old family went for a day at the movies last weekend to take in a showing of Underworld II. We left Landy with the windowsill and a half-eaten package of squid crackers and he was happy. That's the one good thing about the boy. We keep expectations low: minimal effort is required to please him. It's like raising Oliver Twist. I've even considered buying him a cap just to make him look like a British rapscallion. I'm afraid that would raise his expectations for new clothing, however, so he's not getting any caps anytime soon. Maybe when it's time for him to leave home we'll dig a few coppers from our bulging pockets and tell him to go buy one for himself.

Anyhow, the movie was mostly trash. It was exciting and all, but it felt like a very hollow excitement when all was said and done. Somehow, watching the first ten minutes of this David Gordon Green movie "Undertow", where this kid steps on a board with a nail in it, created more terror and suspense than a movie devoted to the cenuries-long battle between werewolves and vampires. Go figure. Lori fell asleep during Underworld in a movie theater, but made me turn off "Undertow" while we watched it in bed because it was going to keep her awake all night with terrible thoughts. There's your difference.

Other than that, we're doing fine, the sun is shining and Catholic Schools Week is coming up soon. I've been asked not to bring Landy this year.