Signs of Spring

Where has the time gone? I recall that when we came home from Deep Springs, I experienced a surprisingly profound culture shock. Now, sometimes I feel as if that time away was a dream, because the motions of everyday driving here, shopping there, cooking now, eating later, getting up, going to sleep have become fully normal. And in that time, an entire season has passed.

We skied as much as the stingy snow allowed. Binbin hit the slopes at Shawnee Peak, Lost Valley, Saddleback Mountain, and Mt. Abrams. He's a pro at getting on and off the chairlifts now, and he's eager to take on the terrain parks. He's leaving his Mama in the dust, er, in the ice.

Before we know it, we'll be returning our rentals, because the mercury is possibly going to hit 80 degrees before this week is through. Binbin has switched to baseball, and he's been going to skills and drills clinics sponsored by the Lisbon Junior Athletic League. On Sunday afternoon, we walked over to the MTM community center to hit the ball, and before we knew it, 6 or 7 kids were cycling in and out of the batting line up. I think it was just about the most small town moment I had ever experienced. Jack was just relieved that none of the kiddos nailed me in the skull with the bat. Apparently I'm not the world's best catcher. Who knew?

Binbin is back on drum lessons, too. He's been practicing the pattern for a Beetles' tune, and been working on his Ringo fill. I think he feels proud of his improving skills, but it's not all guns and roses. The snare is a bit too big, which makes it difficult to fit his little body behind that thing in such as way that he can still reach the pedals for the cymbals and the bass drum. He stood against the door jamb to the bathroom for the semi-annualish marking of his height, and I think he's gained but a scant half-inch since last summer. So, why does it look like he's wearing "floodies"?

Binbin's faves, in brief:

Reading: Lunch Lady, Encyclopedia Brown
Listening to: The White Giraffe, From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Watching: The Avengers, The Secret World of Arriety, How It's Made, NOVA
Eating: rice, cold cuts, Klondike bars, strawberries with sucanat
Not eating: goldfish crackers, burned roasted sunflower seeds, Clif Bars, Z Bars
Playing: modified house pingpong, competitive solitaire
Still loves: Oreo and Inky aka the Wheekers, the Girls, the GGs, the Poopers, the Freakers