Radio from my youth...

Just thinking about radio tonight....I really love radio, and probably prefer it to TV (except with sports...I need to be WATCHING sports, not just listening to them). The radio in Maine is terrible terrible terrible, which is fine, because all I listen to is NPR anyway. But then I was thinking about how kids today are, in my opinion, really missing out on a huge piece of 'life' by not having radio stations like I used to have them growing up outside of Boston. I see my students each day with their Pandora, playlist.com,  and Spotify. I dont like it. When I was a teen, radio truly defined me, and I have so many memories. Do you?

One of my favorites was listening to 100.7 WZLX with my dad, on Saturdays, as we would drive around, visit Papa Goldsmith in the nursing home, and take the long way there or back through towns like Boston, West Roxbury, Roslindale, Dedham, etc. ZLX had TONS of commercials. They probably played like three songs in a row before going to break. But the songs they DID play. Wow. "Deep album cuts," as they were called. I remember hearing pieces by Clapton, Van Morrison, and Queen for the first time, absolutely floored at 'what was out there' for music besides the stuff on Kiss 108 or 92 PRO FM (the bubblegum, top 40 stations of my youth) like MC Hammer, Another Bad Creation, and Color Me Badd....

And it was so cool to 'ask' my dad about these rock and roll bands....it was discovering a new country (not that I have discovered any new countries...but I bet it would be cool). Maybe that is just it: There is no 'discovering' for kids of today; it is all just kind of spoon fed to them. Kind of sad. When I was kid #oldpeoplesayings we had to 'work' for our music...we had to earn it the old fashioned way, listen, put in time, deal with commercials, pore through CDs at places like Newbury Comics, Tower Records, The Wall, and Sam Goody. There was no youtube instant gratification. But there was, however, a sense of wonder at LEARNING and taking the time to do so. My dad was a treasure trove of information about these artists--but also the stories that went along with them. Take The Doors, for example: My dad used to tell stories, when Doors songs came on, about when he was a teen, and he went to parties, and kids used to dance to "Light my fire" because it was such a long song. My dad would put together reel-to-reel tapes of music for these parties. He would tell stories like this while we drove along and listened to music. On the radio. Songs you had to listen to in their entirety. We couldnt just click the next one on the playlist. Radio taught people patience.

There were other awesome radio stations from my youth--104.1 WBCN (which has now been turned into some lame top 40 station or something) Oldies 103 (which has now been turned into some lame top 40 station or something...oh wait...didnt I just write that?) and 94 WHJY. There were three ROCK stations in my area: WBCN, 94 HJY, and 107.3 WAAF. Each had a different personality. BCN was your "deep track" "true to rock and roll" kind of station. Very smart. Very sophisticated. I used to call HJY "construction worker rock," since they seemed to play the kind of stuff guys would smoke cigarettes to: Lynard Skynard, Aerosmith, ACDC, and the like. Arena stuff. Then there was AAF, which was the maverick of the group: Almost anything went with these guys. Unpredictable. But they seemed to settle on 'new' rock (which, in my day, was a dying breed, since everything 'new' was given the monikker of 'alternative').

I really miss these radio stations. They were cool. Everyone listened to the same stations, and we could share a camaraderie of favorite DJs or even commercials! Everyone could share the experience of hearing the same song at the same time. True human interaction. Is it lame that I think this way? Do I just need to embrace pandora? Spotify? I used to keep a blank casette tape in one of my tape decks so that, when Stone Temple Pilot's "Plush" finally DID come on WAAF, I was ready, in my room, to press 'record' and finally get that song on tape....so I could listen to it whenever I wanted. I have troves of mix tapes like this. Perhaps that is a blog post of the future: The lost art of the mixed tape.....

Finally, some random radio DJs/shows I miss from my youth:

*92ProFM--Love it or shove it
*94.5 WZOU and 'The Madam"
*Kiss 108 High Five at Nine
*WBCN Naked Lunch (acoustic hour of music...AWESOME!)
*WBCN DJs like Mark Parenteau, Bradley J, Oedipus.....
*92.5 The River (one of the best stations EVER) and Bob Stewart
*WBCN morning show "The Big Mattress" with Charles Laquiderra (and the Cosmic Muffin who did your horoscope!)
*Howard Stern on BCN...first AT NIGHT....then as the morning show. Completely changed my life. Unfortunately.
*Dallas Kid K
*Dale Dorman of Kiss 108
*WZLX Double Shot Tuesdays

 

*WBRU Chick Rock Weekend
*Paul the Hall Monitor WBRU

 

*"Here's a look at what is going on......"

Can you cute little pandora do any of this?? Long Live Radio.....

"Ice Fishing" McGrath Pond....

 

I put ice fishing in quotes because, quite simply, there was no ice fishing that went on this past Saturday. Just a great time with friends. In the cold. With wind. And ice. And Hillman's donuts. Art was supposed to have all the holes drilled for us, but there was a miscommunication: His furnace broke, and he couldnt make it to fish with us. So that left Brad and I alone with my fourwheeler, thermoses of coffee, ten donuts, four Budweisers, and one fleece facemask......

 

Eventually, Art came by the lake just to hang out with us for a bit--he didnt drill any holes or anything, since he had to get back home and wait for the furnace guy to come. But we just hung out, talked, and listened to his great fishing stories; apparently the brown trout fishing has been outstanding on this pond this winter. This was my first time on McGrath (pronounced ma-graw) pond/Salmon Lake. There are absolutely no salmon in Salmon Lake--it is called such because, when viewed from the air, the lake looks like a 'jumping salmon.' Whatever. But the lake is beautiful--as are most lakes in Maine. There were about five or so shacks out on the ice. And, on Saturday morning, it was a balmy four degrees when we were out there....Brad and I were talking about bringing Mia and Callum out this Saturday for a little bit; they have both been ice fishing together before (even Maira has been!!!) and they loved it. It really is a great activity!

 

 

realized later in the day that I literally spent 96 percent of the day outside....ice fishing in the morning, followed by bringing Callum over to the Winslow outdoor rink for some ice skating, followed by a four mile run. I didnt feel my toes until about 6pm...haha...I love winter

Imagination fuels the world....

 

 

It will be another--approximately--four months or so......and I believe Callum will be a more resourceful, more practical, more pragmatic person than his dad. He has a fantastic imagination indeed: The other day, impulsively, he decided he wanted to build a car for 'puppy.' In true "Apollo 13" fashion, he looked around, used what he had, and put a car together. Without any help or guidance at all. Three Christmas cookie tins, one Minnie Mouse drum, a rubbermaid tote cover, an empty paper towel roll (for the steering wheel 'neck') and a circle he cut out, by himself (for the steering wheel). Somewhere, Edna Walters is smiling. I believe she loved it when kids played with paper towel rolls......

 

Everyone has their own unique learning style and strength--I could never work 'in the field' of Boston like my Dad did....I would crash all the servers in the world if I had George's job....and if I built skyscrapers like Timmycocks they would all fall down.....but what I do have is a lot of creative energy and vision with my songs, my writing, my improvisation, and more (please take note everyone: I gave myself a compliment....this happens less often than Haley's comet visiting North American skies....). I can only hope that this creative energy (mixed with Amanda's amazing artistry and precision) can rub off on our kids.......

And Ms Maira is a ballerina lately.....

(woops....deleted the pic....didnt realize Callum was naked in the background! Come over my house if you want to see cute pics of Maira)

 

We have this FANTASTIC video of her dancing to....well.....okay....it is a One Direction song.....and I would love to post it...but our little friend Callum had just gotten a bath, and he is building a castle, naked, in the background, and I know Nannie would have a breakdown if I had naked Callum on the blog.....

....but we were able to get this shot of Callum building his castle (with no other 'parts' in the photo). The kid is in a huge "building" phase right now....legos, wooden blocks, magnetix, and more....he just wants to create....perhaps he will use his creative energy to get a job where he can make money like Tim #hadto #tokenjaredsayings #lotsoftim

 

It is hard to believe that, in 15 short years, I can put this photo next to my beautiful little girl........in a prom dress...........

And, on another note, the cold continues. Now the sixth day in a row where temps havent gotten out of the single digits. Although we MIGHT have gotten to 11 or so today. Mostly, the temp has been hovering at zero. I have run outside every single day this week with the exception of one day. It has been truly miserable, I have to say.

This morning I was on the ice on McGrath Pond/Salmon Lake at 10 or so....didnt end up even drilling any holes or setting any traps...just brought the ol' ATV and drove around the lake, checking out people's shacks, doing donuts, EATING donuts, and drinking coffee...................and Budweiser. Brad, Art, and I had a great time. It was just like any other day of fishing with the three of us....except there was no work involved (get it? The joke is that even when we DO fish we dont catch anything anyway....so what was the point of drilling holes?)

ta.....

Callum goes to preschool

 

 

First, though: Lego fever continues to sweep through GoldsmithNation....below Callum and Maira are going to TOWN with one of Maira's sets she got for Christmas--they were building a 'supermarket' that has a 'delivery service.' 

 

Below, the completion of it. You can tell this wasnt a Union job because it actually got finished.....
Please note the pyramid in back--this was a 'pyramid food store.' Also, if you blow up the picture, you can see under the umbrella is the man; this is the checkout center....and also, notice the delivery truck bringing people their groceries. Bananas, by the way, which I tried to buy, were sixty dollars last night. Oh, and Lupine, just relax.....

This morning in Maine! It got up to 2 degrees by the time I left school after my FLT meeting at 330 (that is what the thermometer on Tacconet Credit Union said anyway....)

Callum started preschool this past Tuesday. He began for the second semester at Kid's Count preschool.. It is in Waterville, kind of close to our church. He will go on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the mornings, and Amanda will pick him for lunch. Amanda has switched her days off to Tues and Thurs now. Isnt she sweet? Callum, when telling my dad about school yesterday, used the word "perfect" to describe his first day. So far so good....let's hope it continues! And, he had his first homework assignment. They are learning about penguins, and his HW was to research a fact about penguins--something interested and unique--and write it down on the paper. So, tonight, we checked out a few video podcasts and BBC videos on youtube about Emperor Penguins. Here is what Callum will share with his class tomorrow:

Damn straight,, son. I wish I could sled too. #jealous #nosnow


And, below, he is doing some extra-credit by drawing an Emperor Penguin baby. See how I brought up a picture on the computer? He is using that as a model. Kid is a good artist!

Looking behind me at the thermometer, I see that it is -11 outside. Damn. It is amazing when you consider how much firewood we've gone through over the last three days. Still, it is better than oil, right?

Where's Winter?

 

I mean, it sure is cold enough out right now (my thermometer ways -3, currently). And, I guess, it 'has' been a cold winter, all things considered. And I love that. I love the cold. I love when the seasons do what they are supposed to do. But where is the snow? The winters in Maine continue to absolutely suck when it comes to snowfall--all we have is that nasty, Robert-Frost-'Patch-of-old-snow'-poem kind of crap on the ground.

 

You cant do anything with it. It is just there. If this snow were an athletic injury, it would be 'sprained ankle snow' in that it is incredibly annoying, it renders you basically useless, and there's nothing you can do about it, medically speaking, except wait, wait, wait, and be still. Screw that.

 

 

The climate definitely is changing. But I dont believe for one second we are responsible for it. Sorry liberals. I just dont. I, for one, think it is incredibly arrogant of us to think we are that powerful that we can influence the modes and patterns and tendencies of a cosmic planet. I mean, we can kill people and get away with it #shamlessRayLewisreference....but we're not THAT powerful....

 

 

So where is the damn snow?? And how come they can never predict snow correctly? Did you ever notice that they never mis-predict RAIN--in the summer, spring, fall, or winter. When they say RAIN, it RAINS. Why not the case with snow?  I think what angers me about the lack of snow is inherently a very modern American sentiment: Blame. I will admit that I am part of a culture who is always looking for a scapegoat. Right? We are a very 'the buck stops here' kind of people. We love venting our anger and frustration toward something or someone. Who do we blame with the weather? There is no one. Sure we can get mad at the bigdumbidiot weather people...but they are only the wrongful-messengers. At whom do we get mad when it just flat out doesnt snow? It is indeed nature's big joke and its reinforcing notion that it--NATURE--is in charge of nature, and there's not a damn thing we can do about it....so HA!

 

Here is Callum playing "pageant." Pageant is a Christmas-Nativity scene kind of play he likes to put on. Notice how he has baby Jesus in a cradle. HE is Joseph. He is leading a donkey (played by puppy) to Bethlehem....MY job was to be Mary, and he wanted me to ride on the back of pu....Donkey....myeah....

 

 

 

Today I came home from school to find the kids playing "prince and princess." They had made crowns and colored them in, etc. Maira is indeed a little princess....

Prince and Princess parade and dance-off, even!

And, finally, "putting Puppy to bed," with a nice story...I got some great video of Callum reciting this classic story virtually VERBATIM to his stuffed friend. Good times....

901!

 

 

 

I thought that in honor of my 901st post that I would go back exactly three years ago this week and put a few random pics.......I was a little heavier back then, and we didnt have Maira......but most everything else is the same....haha

 



 

 

 

I dont know how many of you noticed (probably I was the only one)...

but the last post I wrote on here a few days ago was the 900th post on this blog! Wow!! I remember when I started this blog several years ago, I thought it was this cute, trendy way to keep in touch with people....I was imbued to do this after my friend and colleague Mike started his in order to keep track of all his hiking and outdoors exploits....

Other blogs have come and gone:The Favry's had one for a few months and then quit (I can make fun of them on here cuz they dont read this)....also our friends the Garner's had one too...and then quit. And our very own loveable sweet SportJonathanWillard had one.......and quit. But GOldsmiths are strong and dont quit!! (unless there are wrenches, math, or book covering involved.....)

I feel like this blog was a lot more popular with people BEFORE the onset of Facebook-fever....I used to get a lot of comments and people would check in regularly. And it seems like before facebook-fever set it, several other people HAD blogs to begin with. Now, it seems, that unless you are sports-talking-head, a political pundit, or a soccermom with cliche recipes involving spaghetti squash, no one really has blogs. I think that might be because blogs are kind of tough to do....I mean, they require a daily comittment (or at least every few days....) and they require some type of subject matter--I'm not saying all my blogs are these amazing stories or essays or well thought out posts....but they are at least more involved than a simple Facebook or Twitter post that is 140 characters at its max....

Blogs are NPR programs in a CNN.com headline world.....

But I prefer NPR to just about any other news source.....

I've been going through a pretty difficult period health-wise (both physical and mental)....and, looking through these blog posts have shown me what a rich, full life I am blessed to live with a wonderful wife and two beautiful kids.

I look forward to the 1000th post. To celebrate, I will probably get chinese food takeout.....

 

Building. Books. Boards.

 

 

This is "the Batcave" by the way (in case you didnt notice at first.....)

 

 

 

And these are these cool magnetic blocks Callum got for Christmas... he built a house and a horse-carriage, respectively....

 

 

 

 

The three Bs.....in the winter time, when we tend to spend more time indoors (well...I would love to go out all the time--winter is my season!) I can think of no better things to do with my kids than build (with legos, blocks, playmobil, etc), read great books (lately, there doesnt seem to be a fave author, since we are so into our legos), and play board games (remember those?) like Zingo, Memory, Sorry!, and I-Spy.

I have to admit--I am getting REALLY into legos with the kids! I never had many legos growing up--I was more of a Lincoln Logs kid (and I had construx and Tinker toys--remember those??) Callum and Maira are growing-up-lego, and I am enjoying it very much. I love the creativity involved (that is such an understatement and cliche I know!). But it is so cool with the little figures they give you along with the 'sets.' And, from an OCD point of view (aka, MINE!) legos COULD pose a total nightmare, since there are so many pieces and parts to keep together. However, I have completely embraced the lego 'way' and conceded to the mess--even dare I say EMBRACED it! One of my favorite parts of the whole lego experience is to fish through the boxes, looking for the parts we need.

Lego is an amazing company--they arent just blocks anymore (for all you oldtimers out there...haha). Lego has theme parks. .Lego has video games. Lego has a whole magazine culture. Lego has partnered with DC Comics superheros so much so that some little kids dont even realize that "Batman" exists "outside" of lego; they think Batman is just part of Lego itself! Anyway, Lego, as a company, must have hired some marketing majors from UNH to reinvent themselves the way they have.

Callum and Maira remind me a lot of myself when I was a kid--in good and bad ways! But, ask my mom, and she will tell you how I used to sit for HOURS using my imagination to set up different "scenes" with my "men" and Lincoln Logs, cars, etc....I used to borrow her cotton balls to create snow-scapes, etc. But, then, I would realize I was alone in the basement, and panic and run upstairs....and this is the OTHER way Callum reminds me of myself! Last week Amanda was in charge of putting on the pageant at church, and Callum, who was supposed to be a lamb, wanted NO. PART. OF. ANYTHING. He was borderline panic-attack kid for some reason. And, if you ask my mom and dad, they will tell you that I, too, refused to be in the Christmas play at good old Holy Cross Church back in Easton!!

And bring on the board games!! I wish I had friends up here to play games with! Actually, I wish I had any friends at all (wah wah wah). I used to play Risk! and Axis and Allies with my friend Tony and some other buddies....and then he got divorced and so did our friendship, apparently. But I love Risk, Sorry, Chess, Cribbage, and all those old games....iin Maine, they havent gone out of style....yet!!

Meanderings 81

 New favorite musical artist: Colbie Calliat!!

ALSO, been having some issues with the home computer....cant upload photos of the kids, etc....when the problem is rectumfied (yes, rectumfied) I will do it!!! xxoo......



1. Wouldnt it be funny if there was a guy named "Norm" and he was the biggest rebel in the world?

2. Some TV shows are 'spaghetti shows' and some shows are 'Thai Food' shows. Here's why: I dont mind eating spaghetti by myself....it isnt that exciting, but it is incredibly satisfying, and I enjoy it. I dont have to be in a big crowd to eat spaghetti; I can eat it alone in peace. Thai food, however, is the kind of food that begs to be eaten in a crowd; for me, part of the whole Thai food experience is trying a taste of everyone else's food--there are so many nuances and flavors and spices. I would call "Arrested Development" the 'Thai Food of Shows,' as an example, because the comedic experience is heightened when you watch it with others. Football, too, is a 'Thai Food' program, whereas something like Downton Abbey is definitely a spaghetti show.

3. Number two seemed a lot more interesting when I originally thought of it yesterday. I apologize for everything I just wrote in number 2....

4. Scientists tell us that 'matter can neither be created nor destroyed.' So what's the deal with smells? Where do they go? After you blow up a Yankee Candle or share a SBD fart together, and the smell "wears off," where does it go? It cant just "disappear"--according to physics anyway.....

Perhaps there is an 'island of misfit toys,' only there are 'smells' there. And perhaps those smells are getting ready to take over the world someday....

**The following two are designed to be 'cartoon' drawings (a la The Far Side) that my friend Brad and I could make if we collaborated on a project.....

5. You know how you go to a restaurant and go into the bathroom and see those signs that say "please tell a manager if our restroom needs attention?" Well, I imagine a drawing where it is, say, a 'stall door' that has been personified....eyes, a nose, a cute little pouty mouth....and it is obviously in severe emotional pain....therefore it needs some attention and love and affirmation......get it?

6. On a related note, what about a "scale model" of a building or model car, etc? What if it were a literal "scale" like you stand on in the doctor's office....but the 'scale' itself is wearing a cute dress and makeup or earrings or so....see? Scale Model.

7. I will probably try to think of others like this....I like this kind of stuff....if you can think of any, let me know!

Gift Certificates

Dont get me wrong, I love when people give me gift certificates....I love when people give me anything, in fact. Being given 'free money' to go to a restaurant, etc is always enjoyed by yours truly. But, thinking about things as I always do, I began to consider how gift certificates might be one of the most 'American' of all gifts--fulfilling the stereotypes of our laziness and need to control, control, control.....

(by the way, I love her.....)

In addition, gift certificate makers have even met the lazy-gift-givers 90% of the way there; now, one does not even need to go to CVS or online to itunes or to JCPenny or the Gap--Hannaford, our local supermarket, sells probably fifty different types of gift cards from a wide array of places....they have made it possible for gift certificates to be even LESS of an effort for people to get....

Now I know I will never get any gift certificates for the rest of my life for saying this, but that is okay...haha....

Gift certificates create an 'illusion' of generosity on behalf of the gift "giver" in that they appear to be a selfless gesture--"here....go get a nice meal...its on me...."

But, consider this: The gift certificate is a CONTROLLING gift....you are restricted....you have to go where the gift giver 'tells' you to go....in this sense, the gift giver gets the "last laugh;" therefore, it is a symbiotic gift in that it is a gift for the receiver (they get a free meal) and the gift giver (they get to make their recipient suffer--if they want). A gift certificate could be a fantastic "HAHA!!" gift in that I could purposely give a gift card to a place I KNOW the receiver dislikes.....

However, it could backfire too: If I gave my dad a gift card to a restaurant he hates, he could simply throw it away, thus HE would have the last laugh, as I just had my hard earned money 'wasted.' As I said--they are the ultimate symbiotic gift....

Why dont people who give gift certificates simply give "cash" instead? That way, people could do whatever they want! Is it a GUILT thing in that they know they are giving a 'lazy' gift anyway and they want to gild that 'just a bit' by creating the illusion of thoughtfulness?  Or, is it that American need and desire to control outcomes, and WE want to decide where the person eats, shops. etc...

Much like the platitudes we give each other every single day ("oh, let me know if there is anything I can do"....."we will be keeping you in our prayers"....."we totally should get together soon; I will give you a call"....and everything else you can think of), I would argue that gift certificates are just old fashioned "veiled generosity."

By the way: I love Mei Dream, Cancun, and Ming Lee. In case you are wondering :)

 

 

 

 

 

I had been meaning to post a few pictures from our New Year's eve and such. My Christmas vacation this year was without question one of my best of all time....the kids are at a great age where they truly embraced the spirit and excitement of Christmas....and the day on which Christmas fell meant that I had a week and  a half off for vacation...ANNNNND Amanda was off for the week too. We had just a fantastic time playing with all the new toys the kids got...sledding....ice skating....and baking. And, also, I worked on rehabbing my ankle so I can start running the way I want to again. To do this, I worked out on my ultra super boring bicycle trainer in the basement....and Callum did some spinning too.

 

Okay. Blogger is really messing with me tonight. The picture formatting is all messed up and I cannot space between pics. So I will just explain what we did. On New year's eve, we went over to our friends the Edwards' and met up with our other friends the Parks-Stamms. All the kids and adults got together and had dinner and drinks and played a lot (well....the kids played a lot mostly). Callum's little girlfriends Abby and Polly were having a super time with Callum (and Maira!). The other babies Brownlow (who is almost 2) and virtual newborns Anderson (Edwards) and Agnes (Parks Stamm) kept things interesting too!! Lots of fun!

 

Amanda made some wonderful whoopie pies which were, seriously, the second best I have ever had (sorry Amanda...Hillman's is still amazing). But those stupid-oprah-adored-Massachusetts-sellout Isamax Craps ones dont hold a candle to yours! She is taking requests if anyone wants to hire her out (for  whoopie.............................pies)

 

And I included a picture of Amanda and Emily. They have grown to be very good friends, and it is kind of sad to think they will be leaving in a few months (May, I think). Finley, the husband, is an economics professor at Colby this year, and he is a "visiting" professor....as I write this, he is at a conference in San Diego (every time I drop my waffle on the beach, I get a San Diego.......get it?) interviewing for positions at colleges all over the country. In many ways, Emily is the female "me." English teacher alliance. Runner alliance. XC coach alliance. Actually, that is all.

 

Okaybye

 

 

 

 

Splat the Cat

A series of books the kids really really enjoy is Splat the Cat by a writer/illustrator named Rob Scotton. I have to admit--Splat is a pretty neat story and definitely an original character! I was talking books with my friend John the other day; John used to be a youth services librarian, and now he is like the President of the Milky Way Galaxy Library Association--but he still loves and appreciates kid stuff! Anyway, I wondered aloud how a book about "another" cat character could be even remotely successful in a market so deluged by cute and cliche animals. But then it dawned on me how differently unique Splat is!

Quick brainstorm (and I will do this 'live' too just to prove my point...): Name all the cats you can, off the top of your head, who are 'pop culture' characters. Garfield. Heathcliff. Puss in Boots. Morris. The Siamese cats in "Lady and the Tramp." Gargamel's cat Asrial on the smurfs. Misses Norris from Harry Potter books. Okay. That is all I can think of of the top of my head. My point is this: Cats, in literature, are totally arrogant, self serving, gluttonous, haughty jerks. The suck. They usually care nothing for anyone but themselves. This, I would argue, is how cats are "drawn" in pop culture. I mean, do you think Garfield gives a hoot about ANYTHING but his bed, lasagna, and annoying Odie? Morris was a gluttonous, careless, apathetic sloth who existed only to be fed. Asrial and Misses Norris sniffed out smurfs and third years at Hogwarts, in an effort to get them in some type of trouble. Heathcliff, I think, was a pimp of some kind.....

But consider lovable Splat. First of all, he is really cute. But he has absolutely no self confidence whatsoever. He is shy and reserved and fearful. His best friend is a mouse named Seymour. He is timid and considerate of other people's feelings. He leads his cat-school (along with teacher Mrs Wimpydimple) on a crusade to not only coexist but also befriend mice. He is, essentially, the anti-cat.. And my kids and I love him!  The illustrations are just fantastic and warm--the pictures have a 'soft' aura to them; they are gently drawn. And Splat deals with real issues pertinent to kids and their lives--and not in a way that is sappy, cliche, and, basically, lame. For example, he has swimming lessons. He has his first day of school. He has a playdate. He fears not being good enough to have earned a Christmas present (is this not the embodiment of humility!!??). If you have/know little people, get them some Splat!!

Also, FYI, also 'trending' and popular books in the Goldsmith house involve "Fancy Nancy" stuff (these are Maira's, but Callum loves them too!), all the Mo Willems 'pigeon' books (more to come on this and Callum, our budding illustrator, later), and, more recently, the "Llama Red Pajama" books.

But seriously: Try to think of a cat, personified in literature, advertising, etc, who is NOT a total tool in some way. I challenge you.

And that's one to grow on (da-da DA!)                                     (who got that??)