Random Tuesday thoughts on Saturday: Why not, it's almost Tuesday again!

Here we go again. Time for Random Tuesday Thoughts, this time on Saturday as I'm a day late and a dollar short. Check that, I'm four days late or three days early (take your pick) and god knows how many dollars short.

Well, this Thursday R.E. Dad shaved which has become an increasingly rare event since I left the labor force almost two years ago. Heck, who am I kidding? I hardly ever shaved for the benefit of my fellow office mates either.  Just ask them.  After a few weeks, however, I just couldn't stand that tingly feeling of my whiskers swaying  like prairie grass in a meadow (felt like dozens of bugs crawling on my mug).

Funny, I used to think that when I shaved I looked years younger like I'd be carded trying to get into a rated "R" movie.  But what about now?  Not so much.  I see the beginnings of a "Turkey Neck".   I remember that my Mom used to give my Dad shit  a hard time about the loose skin below his chin.  I don't believe he liked the idea of having a big ass wattle either!

Speaking of family...Mom MD and I have a couple of ongoing debates.  I'm curious what you think.  The first one is unwrapping presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?  The second has to do with kissing on the lips.  Nope, I'm not talking about your spouse.  I'm talking about kissing everyone else on the lips like your kids, your mom, your step dad and your grandma.

Speaking of kids....a tripletism.   The triplets have been taking swimming lessons through the city parks and recs the past couple weeks, but missed a couple days due to a pooping brat some kind of chemical imbalance at a local high school pool.  The city added a make-up day to be held on Thursday at another high school.   The night before the trips were to attend their make-up session, five-year old Alec asked me what the boys would be doing at tomorrow's swimming lesson.  I said "I don't know what do you mean?  Probably, the same thing as the girls....why?"  He said "Well, the girls will be doing make-up!"

Yeah, different type of make-up Mr. Man.   Again I don't make this stuff up.  

I wanted to go into some other stuff like what a difference between telling a new relationship with whom you will soon be cohabiting  that you'll be moving in with extra baggage vs. additional luggage.  This is a potential life altering event.  How do people learning English as a second language survive?

So much more, but gotta go for now.....hope everyone is enjoying their weekend...

NOT dat one Daddy!

Most mornings before dawn I'm awaken to the pitter patter of little feet traipsing across the bedroom carpet towards Mom MD's armchair situated in the sitting area opposite the TV. The figure sighs, pulls up the blanket, sighs again...and after a few moments says "Daddy, can you turn on da TV?" I know this little voice very well. It's our middle triplet with the slight New England accent....Ju Ju.

What cracks up Mom MD and is kinda cute (if you're a spectator) are the moments immediately following her request. Groggy, I fumble and bumble around for the remote control which I pray sets on the nightstand. When I find it I quickly hit the power button and wait for the unit to warm up. Ugh, sometimes I swear it's as slow as the old picture tubes!

As soon as the picture appears on screen, inevitably I'll hear those oh so familiar four words "NOT dat one Daddy!" OK, so by now I'm awake as I can ever be prior to my morning cup of Joe. I have to think fast to avoid hearing those words a second, third or fourth time which will most certainly become increasingly louder with a less patient tone. I must find that perfect kids show. Ju Ju isn't going to stand for ESPN or the morning news.

Stay with me now as what seems so simple becomes so complicated. I have to consider two important questions; the time and the day of the week. First, time is easy - I look on the ceiling (we have one of those projection alarm clocks). Secondly, what day is it? Weekdays are easy, Mom MD goes to work. Wait... sometimes she goes in on Saturdays or Sundays. Damn! I'll take an educated guess using high probability that today is most likely a weekday.

Have any of you done this? Be honest. Now, based on the two questions above, I have to find the right channel and kids show with the understanding that there are certain shows she doesn't like such as "Jack's Big Music Show" on Noggin. I know PBS is option #1 as she likes "Between the Lions" at 6:30 and "Maya and Miguel" at 7:00, but what if it's 6:28? Damn!

Slowly I'll punch in the numbers 4-1 for Disney Channel which takes a couple seconds to change channels as the ENTER button doesn't work. Yuck, it's "Imagination Movers" .... "NOT dat one Daddy." Fine, I'll hit the down arrow a couple times....cool Nickelodeon, channel 39. Oh, Damn! Good show, but commercial...."NOT dat one Daddy."

I then proceed to flip channels like the Utah Jazz used to make crisp passes in their triangle offense, but instead of Stockton to Malone, back to Stockton and over to Hornacek (shot/all net)....it's pro channel surfing...117 up to 119 over to 45, down to 41, up to 141......back to 6 (that's PBS), SLAM DUNK "Between the Lions" has started! I'm done.

The day has begun with the "NOT dat one Daddy" game....today I heard the phrase 3x (sometimes I lose count), so I consider this yet another victory for Ju Ju....current score, Ju Ju 100, Reinvent Dad 1. Now all is good in the house. Perhaps I can catch a few more zzzzz's until Alec & Vivi get up and the trio starts the second game of the day "2 Chairs for Triplets Slam Fest." - this game, however, I'm not a participant...I'm the referee.

Here's to: The Sacramento Kings winning in TRIPLE OT last evening to beat No. Cal rivals, Golden State. Hey with a few more wins, perhaps soon they can hurdle over said Warriors and become "Kings of the dip sh#ts" for the NBA Pacific Division....

Tripletisms II

So what are the triplets into these days you ask? My answer remains "anything and everything." Today is their unofficial four and one-half year birthday, and no I'm not getting them anything. I don't want to spoil Christmas. I have to give Clark the Elf an opportunity to do his magic (see Elf on the Shelf blog).

HMMM, let's see....as expected, they remain extremely close, but have very different personalities.  They have their own vocabulary - "Kezert" is a dessert, "Krispie" is a frisbee. Here is the latest. 

Alec:

1.  Nicknames: Bubby, Mr. Man, Man Cub, Blond Boy

2. Favorite Foods: corn dogs, fish sticks, pears, bananas, oatmeal

3. Friends: Noah, Trey, Sammy

4. Lives for: Sammy coming for a visit,  a chance to go fishing, a ride on a quad

5. Favorite places: North Dakota farm, Petsmart, McDonalds, St. Anna preschool, Cal Fit, Honey Treat Yogurt, Raley Field.

6. Dislikes: moths, loud noises, change of  plans.

7. Loves: trains, cars, his Daddy (haha), playing ball, coloring, Halloween, The Mall.

8. Recently said: "Daddy, can I hold the gun when we shoot the turkey?"

*Traits: Rules boy, great memory, inquisitive, detailed.

Julia:

1. Nicknames: JuJu, Juju Fruit, Mini Me's Mini Me.

2. Favorite Foods: CANDY, CANDY & more CANDY, spaghetti w/no sauce, burritos, kids energy bars, apples, strawberries.

3. Friends: Bella, Trey and Sammy.

4. Lives for: Candy, Halloween, Mommy time, adventure, tumbling, playing w/Grandpa's dog Daisy.

5. Favorite places: North Dakota farm, Wendy's, St. Anna's,  San Francisco, Bishops Pumpkin Farm, "Mommy's Hospital"

6. Dislikes: house with no candy, being yelled at or teased, combing her hair, not being able to chose her own clothes.

7. Loves: Candy, her siblings, her scooter, dogs, snack bags.

8. Recently said: "Alec, you are a crazy old Maurice"

*Traits: Independent, nurturing, loving, athletic.

Vivi

1. Nicknames: Goo, Goolish, Little One, AsIffer, Vivikins.

2. Favorite Foods: Mac & Cheese, Chicken nuggets, cheerios, watermelon.

3. Friends: Kylie, Mia, Sammy.

4. Lives for: being read to by Grandma Jan, imaginative play, games, Barbie.

5. Favorite Places: ND Farm, Las Vegas, Honey Treat Yogurt, The Fountains.

6. Dislikes: Lost glasses, bedtime and naps, getting dressed

7. Loves: Lamby, stuffed animals, books, dress-up, The Princesses, cuddling.

8. Recently did: Breast feed Lamby at the dinner table.

*Traits: Quick wit, sweet, friendly, creative.

Here's to not having to watch another Sacramento Kings loss until at least Saturday.  How can you lose 7 in a row at Arco and 10 out of the past 11? The poor Sac Bee beat writer is running out of ideas to describe near victories.  Ugh, at least the triplets aren't into basketball yet because they'd probably start rooting for the Lakers or Celtics.  

Tripletisms

"Isms" as defined by American Heritage Dictionary represent a "distinctive doctrine, system or theory." Our triplets although monumentally different in thought, word and deed, probably like many multiples, have a distinctive bond that differs from those of typical siblings. Perhaps, not a stronger bond, but an aura....a feeling that part of you is missing when the others are not around.

"Sick Julia" home today with dad has already inquired about the whereabouts of Alec and Vivi and wants to pick them up early today from preschool. As much as we'd like to pull them apart for individual mommy and daddy time, and as much as they think it's pretty cool, they resist. Why? I guess their relationship began earlier than most. Maybe "the love" began the first time in utero when Baby B (Julia) or Baby C, (Vivi) kicked upside down Baby A (Alec). Hence an approximate origin in the line of communication, albeit of the non-verbal (& not the kindest) variety......


In their early years outside the "friendly confines" of the womb, in a slightly larger space in the same bedroom, the triplets co-habitated in cribs. They cried, cooed and grunted. Alec even uttered a "huh huh" sound on occasion. One purpose was to let each other know that they were all still there and safe....sort of a perpetual "role call."

Fast forward to the present and the world of speech. Sometimes they just want to say "I'm here, and I am ok" or make a statement about their environment. Other times, talk leads to debate, and debate to a disagreement. My preference would be for them to just agree to disagree, but of course that's unrealistic in the world of four-year-olds.

Vivian is the queen of "one-liners." During Alec's spitting faze a few months back, we were all upstairs one morning and he asked if spitting was allowed inside the house. I said "NO." His retort was "how about outside?" I then said yes, but ONLY if you are outside all by yourself. Vivian chimed in and said "then NO Alec."

Another exchange between Vivi and Alec came at the dinner table. Vivian began to sing a song she learned in preschool. Alec decided he wanted to sing along. Unfortunately, Vivi favored a solo over a duet, and said "NO Alec, you can't sing with me." Alec then cried out to me "Daddy, Vivi isn't sharing songs."

Exchanges between Julia and other two is less frequent as she tends to be more independent, but she is always listening and "on call" if she's needed. She's the "mommy" of the three...definitely the sheepherder, nurturer, and leader. Alec is well......a boy.

The triplets interactions are exciting to watch at this age. They are extremely close and each has a distinct role within the trio. What I see is a powerful bond that will not allow itself to be compromised.

Now, I suppose when they're beating each other up over the bathroom in few years, it may be interesting to watch the exchange between the three if one were a fly on the wall, but not quite as cute..................stay tuned!