Playlist Evolved

Squeaker's involvement with our playlist has grown since i mentioned it back in March. Although I have made a couple of additions (more school songs), most of the action has centered around the fifth song, Old Dominion. If you haven't heard it (or maybe even if you have) you can watch the it here at Eddie From Ohio's website. On a related note, I would like to publicly ask EFO to come play another early evening, outdoor concert somewhere in the Old Dominion this summer.

I started the evolution by pointing out to her that the "just southeast of Heaven" line is an allusion to the geographically challenge John Denver song, "Country Roads". While I am pretty sure Squeaker was listening to the words before that conversation, she started asking questions about the song after it, and will sing a nice rendition of the chorus for you too. Squeaker never likes to miss "Fight For Old DC" and makes me rewind if she misses it (she also frequently requests the VMI fight song, though that's cause she knows I'll sing it for her at least once a car trip).

Editor's Note: I was about to suggest that it's good for her sake that I am not a Cubs fan (for her sake), but by building up VMI sports, I suppose I am going one worse (the Cubs at least win during the regular season), never mind the 'Skins and the Nats.

Those questions lead eventually to Patsy Cline. The Daddy person is certain that Squeaker will be the only Patsy Cline fan in her preschool class. So, Old Dominion is followed (at her behest) in the playlist by: Walkin' After Midnight, I Fall to Pieces, Crazy, Back in Baby's Arms, and Sweet Dreams (of You). In case you're wondering about her choices, go back to the link and listen to the song again.

Have a good week your friends here in the Old Dominion.

College Tour

Squeaker and I went on a road trip this weekend. Given her attachment to hearing the Daddy person sing his old college songs, I thought it was about time that she got to hear the band play and watch the Keydets march. Since she asks about my students every night at bedtime (out of a genuine interest in them and in delaying my departure) I thought we would go to graduation together too. So we packed up an extra bow tie for me and a skirt for Squeaker and made a weekend of it.

Saturday was hot enough to melt little girls (let alone the big boys and girls in grey wool), so Squeaker did not enjoy waiting for the parade. Once they got started, she forgot about the heat, and throughly enjoyed it when the band marked time a few feet away from her. She was disappointed that the band didn't play the Spirit or the Doxology.

After the parade we walked to the second college on the tour, or more accurately through the second college, on our way to our real destination, an ice cream shop the Daddy person has frequented since the Gipper (Honorary '40) lived in the White House. Sustained by a cup of blue raspberry, I suggested that Squeaker should be able to walk all the way back to the car by herself. She shot back, "No, I need two cups of ice cream to be able to walk all the way back to the car."She did make it most of the way back to the car, but slept her way to the next college in the tour.

The Daddy person prepped well for graduation, we had a drawing pad, a blanket, and a shady spot far enough away from the action that a little girl's comments and questions wouldn't disturb people too much. It was a nice cool morning (at least in the shade) and she had fun observing the rituals and musical interludes of graduation. The awarding of the degrees was fun because we played the guess-what-her-name-starts-with-so-how-long-do-we-have-left-game. Squeaker did well with it and left with an understanding of where she would be in her procession, as well as with a strong desire to "get some awards".

The biggest surprise for the Daddy person was that when we finally got in the car and headed home on Sunday, Squeaker expressed a strong desire to go to another graduation. I think this was at least partly fueled by the fact that there was a ready supply of chocolate covered strawberries (the size of her fist) at the graduation...

Have a good week. If the rain ever stops we might get back into the woods for a camping trip.

On the Road

Squeaker and I are visiting her grandparents this weekend. We enjoyed her Granddad's stage debut, but unfortunately the pictures I was going to post are back in the mountains.

Check back midweek for her engineering feat of the week...

Hiking in the Park

Given the success of our walk in the woods, it wasn't going to be long before the Daddy person took Squeaker to the big time. In this case, we went to our local national park for a 3.75 mile hike (and picnic).

I learned a couple of things on this trip. The first lesson is that if you are taking Squeaker hiking and she asks for a fifth pancake with breakfast, you should give it to her. She was asking for food from the time her foot hit the ground and was still hungry after we finished lunch. The second is that her ancestors evolved to deal with the cooler climates of Europe's primordial forests. She hasn't yet embraced the sticky heat of summer in the south and wilted occasionally. Third, this hike was three times as long as our last one, and perhaps a little far for a wee one over rocky terrain.

As a corollary to those lessons, the Daddy person wilted somewhat while carrying his little wildflower up the mountain in the heat, without quite enough lunch. We had a good time, and I think she will go hiking with me again. However, she was wondering if we could go for a bike ride again.

Have a good week.