aw shucks

My daughter's second grade homework for the weekend was to fill out a bunch of little self-inventory questions to be posted on the classroom wall when it's her week to be VIP. She proceeded to write where she was born, what animal she liked, what book she liked -- all on her own.

When she came to ``I admire ______'' she asked me what admire means. I gave several definitions. I think I was lexicographically accurate, but maybe I should have been listening to myself more carefully. Her first response was her best friend, and I replied that the two of them were a lot alike. Her response to that was no, that her friend likes pink.

A moment later she got quiet, and she said she knew what to write. As if to tell me a secret she pulled me close and whispered: ``my dad''

I'm with her at gymnastics now, and there's wifi, so the world is so cool I can crow about it all.

wheeee

Both daughters engaged in growth spurts opens doors.

Last week we joined a party hiking from Big Basin to the sea. When we got to the fork in the trail I let them stay with the main group while I took the high trail. As a result I managed to explore a new trail and still catch up with them at the lunch stop. They started down from Berry Creek falls with the main group while I first went up to see Silver Falls and Golden Cascades. I was glad of that, for at this season the low flow in the creeks allows for very close inspection of the glistening golden sandstone and the interface with the harder rock. Then I turned around and caught up with everyone before anyone reached the beach.

Today at the county pool was the first time I felt that I could leave the younger one alone and just float or swim on my own. But with the same new capabilities come new adventures. For the first time my younger one and I joined the older in utilizing the water slide. The little one had a blast.

Me? The plot of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure revolves around the park ``Waterloo'' in San Dimas --a thin veil over Raging Waters which was built while I was commuting between Orange County and Pasadena. But I never went there.

So what then? Another movie reference... Shortly after Star Wars Mark Hamill starred in a movie about a stolen car -- Corvette Summer. There's a great quote right after he stands up from being in the van with Annie Potts.