Standing In

Craft Time with Abuela

Things were pretty slow at work yesterday so I was able to spend a couple hours at home filling in for my wife providing FBR child care. My wife has another of follow up procedure next week where they send a camera up into her brain to check on the aneurism repair they made a few years ago. Yesterday was the pre-op appointment and I was more than willing to spend some more time with the little dynamo that has so thoroughly captured my heart.

A Very Busy Gal

She was pleased as well because she knows I can deny her nothing and am more than willing to descend into the Man Cave with her. Once there she continued to educate me on mysteries of Dora the Explorer and her pals, Boots and the map. She paid close attention to any grandfatherly attempts at dozing off during these riveting rituals. Apparently an important part of the Dora experience is having an adult nearby upon which to climb and then jump onto to. Too much fun.

More Photos From Ecotarium Visit on Wednesday

I returned home after work and the FBR came charging across the house to hug me and called out to my wife that she could now go back to the doctor’s office since grandpa was home. My wife and I were lamenting how quiet the house is going to be next week without our personal activity center careening about. Keene Friend was spending the night so he was also subjected to the FBR’s requirements when it came to playing. One of her newest games is asking one of us to hide one of her favorite dolls while she supposedly closes her eyes. She’s found that the game is much easier if she keeps her eyes open when the hiding is taking place.

In an event worthy of national media attention Keene Friend actually kept his eyes open beyond 8pm. Those who know him will understand the monumental nature of this event. He was down in the Man Cave with my wife and I to watch the new Jumanji movie. It is testament to how funny that movie is that it kept his eyelids from drooping until well after 10pm.

I polished off my latest adventures with Titus Pullo with RW Peake’s Marching with Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra Part 1. I’ve truly enjoyed these very long books that transport the reader into the day to day life of Roman legionnaires. Pullo, now leading the famed 10^th Legion, recruits a new legion and is assigned to Mark Antony’s army during the initial stages of his rivalry with Octavian not to mention the romance with Cleopatra. I’d never looked too hard into the time between the two triumvir’s final confrontation but there were some significant events taking place. Most of the book involves the ill-fated invasion of Parthia. I’d never realized the extent of that campaign where Antony marched his army well into modern day Iran. Proving he was certainly no Julius Caesar though it was almost heartbreaking to experience the ignominious march back as Pullo’s men are called upon to perform superhuman tasks while running out of food, water and having to fight battles as well. It is testament to the sheer hardiness of the Roman legions that anyone survived. A great read and I’m already onto Part 2.