Our daughter Lexie is very intelligent and observant, I'm not saying this is a bragging sort of fashion (although I'm a proud parent!) but in a straightforward kind of manner. At 3.5 yrs old she is in the "Can I ask a Question About Everything" phase. I've never in my lifetime heard so many What, Who, Why, How or Whens than I do in one day around my daughter. It can be cute at times and then disconcerting at others. From her perspective she is just trying to learn as much as she can, which is very cool.....however you have to watch what you talk about around her or risk having to come up with some unique explanations of life.
She has also become the word police...any slip of the tongue - darn, stupid, sucks, etc. gets a response of - "Daddy, that's a bad word". Feeling sheepish you can do nothing at that moment accept to offer an apology.
In one memorable dinner conversation I was talking to Pam about a difficult work situation and Lexie continually piped in - "Who did it Daddy?" "What's a referral?" "What did you say?"
Pam once tried to spell out a word that she didn't want Lexie to catch on to, however the first letter of the word sounded like the word itself and Lexie filled in the rest!......Got to love the brain of a 3-4 yr old!!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Pursuit of Life?
Lexie and Jim Pursuing "Life"
Pam and I recent saw the movie - "The Pursuit of Happyness" with Will Smith about the real life Chris Gardner and man does it really put into perspective "having and not having". Makes you think about the times you complain because your cable bill is too high or your internet access is not functioning. Pam and I both gave it a 5-star Brice rating (see recent movies list).
The movie and other events got me thinking about the game of "Life" and here I mean the Milton-Bradley board game. From what I remember the goal was to accumulate wealth, children, assets, etc. He with the most stuff won the game! Kinda weird concept that MB taught us younguns. Isn't life about making the most of every moment? Those times when Lexie and I are playing together or making silly jokes and laughing....that's what I think "Life" is and its a heck of a lot rosier than worrying about how big my paycheck is or why I ever got rid of TiVO. Maybe the little cards in the game should have said - "You just spent a quality day with your kids!" rather than "You won 5000.00 in the lottery!"
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Made in China
Nothing super exciting going on at the Brice household lately, just living life or lifin' it.
Lexie and I were in her room today and I began reading the tags on many of her toys........we both came to the realization that just about the entire contents in her room could be summed up in three words - MADE IN CHINA. In fact I had to search the entire room for a few minutes to find anything not made in China. We bought her dollhouse from a specialty store this Christmas and it was made in Thailand, but otherwise all we could find was a Reed and Barton piggy-bank(Japan), a shell (God) and thankfully one thing actually made in the good ol' USA - a box of Crayola crayons.....I love Crayola!
This got me thinking about our dependence on China, the lack of US industry jobs mainly because we Americans want our stuff cheap and lots of it. I thought if I could trade in half of Lexie's toys for a few quality made more pricey U.S. stuff, she'd be just as happy and so would our society........Sometimes we have to look at ourselves to see the issues behind our country's woes.
Lexie and I were in her room today and I began reading the tags on many of her toys........we both came to the realization that just about the entire contents in her room could be summed up in three words - MADE IN CHINA. In fact I had to search the entire room for a few minutes to find anything not made in China. We bought her dollhouse from a specialty store this Christmas and it was made in Thailand, but otherwise all we could find was a Reed and Barton piggy-bank(Japan), a shell (God) and thankfully one thing actually made in the good ol' USA - a box of Crayola crayons.....I love Crayola!
This got me thinking about our dependence on China, the lack of US industry jobs mainly because we Americans want our stuff cheap and lots of it. I thought if I could trade in half of Lexie's toys for a few quality made more pricey U.S. stuff, she'd be just as happy and so would our society........Sometimes we have to look at ourselves to see the issues behind our country's woes.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Lifing It
Not much news here...but I came up with a new cool word "Lifing" like right now we are "Lifing it" meaning we are just living life as normal nothing super exciting going on. I'm copyrighting this term so anytime you say you are "lifing" it you must also say you got it from me.......or I'll cry.
Anywho.....just recently watched Blood Diamond.....very good movie, but deep and depressing at points. Acting was superb around although had a hard time with Leo's accent. Check it out if you have not seen it.
Back with more later
PS: Did you see the Clinton-Obama match from Myrtle Beach? I thought you needed pay-per-view for those fist-i-cuffs but we watched for free!!!
Anywho.....just recently watched Blood Diamond.....very good movie, but deep and depressing at points. Acting was superb around although had a hard time with Leo's accent. Check it out if you have not seen it.
Back with more later
PS: Did you see the Clinton-Obama match from Myrtle Beach? I thought you needed pay-per-view for those fist-i-cuffs but we watched for free!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Winter Wonderland
Finally! We got some real snow in Asheville. Got up this morning (5:50am Lexie-time) after last night's storm and measured 3 inches on the back deck. School was called and Pam took the day off so the whole family has a Satur-Thurs-day to hang out. Check out the pics taken this morning.
Monday, January 7, 2008
New Old Music
So my entire musical collection is on my Zune (Microsoft's answer to the iPod) which among other cool things has led me to start listen to more of my "older" music. Bear in mind that I'm woefully out of the music scene since about 2000. While friends are playing me bits of Modest Mouse, Mngmt, and Arcade Fire...I'm still stuck on Jurassic 5 and Radiohead. Lately however I've been hittin' the "oldies" and re-finding gems. Here are a few
1. Big Country - The Crossing (album): These guys came out in the mid-80s with a debut album without much fanfare and are long considered one-hit-wonders with "In a Big Country". That's probably the worst song on the album and it plains rocks....the kind you used to leave in the tape player in your car back in the real old days. I remembered this album so fondly I went back and downloaded it the other day and it brought me back. Try a few clips like "Inwards", "Porroh Man" and "Angle Park".
2. Counting Crows - August and Everything After (album): The guys who brought you "Mr. Jones" in the early 90s actually put out a nice album that contains mellow work like "Perfect Blue Buildings" and "Sullivan Street" and the moving "Anna Begins". The band kinda sputtered to small-time fame in the late 90s but this album will always be a classic.
3. Depeche Mode - Violater (album): I remember the moody Depeche Mode from the Black Celebration days and the synth movement of which they were kings but this album runs straight through with great music. Some might remember "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence" from MTV days but to me "Clean" is a masterpiece and "Halo" and "World in My Eye" are right up there.
4. Led Zepplin - Led Zepplin 1: This just might be the best initial release every made...just listen to it through and you'll get my drift. Blues influenced and emotional from a band that defined the late 60s early 70s rock arena style band rock movement. Can't name a bad tune on the album.
Speaking of good music never dies: I allow my students to play music in class every once in a while and a student on mine was playing stff with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald singing together.....I found myself moved to ask what album it was from and where I could GET IT!!!!
1. Big Country - The Crossing (album): These guys came out in the mid-80s with a debut album without much fanfare and are long considered one-hit-wonders with "In a Big Country". That's probably the worst song on the album and it plains rocks....the kind you used to leave in the tape player in your car back in the real old days. I remembered this album so fondly I went back and downloaded it the other day and it brought me back. Try a few clips like "Inwards", "Porroh Man" and "Angle Park".
2. Counting Crows - August and Everything After (album): The guys who brought you "Mr. Jones" in the early 90s actually put out a nice album that contains mellow work like "Perfect Blue Buildings" and "Sullivan Street" and the moving "Anna Begins". The band kinda sputtered to small-time fame in the late 90s but this album will always be a classic.
3. Depeche Mode - Violater (album): I remember the moody Depeche Mode from the Black Celebration days and the synth movement of which they were kings but this album runs straight through with great music. Some might remember "Personal Jesus" and "Enjoy the Silence" from MTV days but to me "Clean" is a masterpiece and "Halo" and "World in My Eye" are right up there.
4. Led Zepplin - Led Zepplin 1: This just might be the best initial release every made...just listen to it through and you'll get my drift. Blues influenced and emotional from a band that defined the late 60s early 70s rock arena style band rock movement. Can't name a bad tune on the album.
Speaking of good music never dies: I allow my students to play music in class every once in a while and a student on mine was playing stff with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald singing together.....I found myself moved to ask what album it was from and where I could GET IT!!!!
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