originally posted 2-25-07

Almost every aspect of my life has been infiltrated by batteries: AA; AAA; 9 volt; D; C; lithium; battery packs for the computer, camera, video camera, iPod, CD player. Inventions make my life lighter, hip and on-the-go, until that flashing red light appears signaling I’m low on power.

So, now I’m saddled with a bag of cords apparatuses needed to keep the batteries charged. Plus, it’s best to buy a bunch of the alkaline alphabet batteries and keep them on hand. Then, just then, I might be able to use a few of these gadgets before the “once-in-a-lifetime cute kiddie moment” ends (i.e., children’s play, children’s birthday, children petting goat, children playing drums on pots and pans, children feeding parrot, children getting to close to cayman, children smothered in beans, children opening Christmas presents, children falling over on bike, children taking that first step, children painting the kitchen cupboards with crayons…) the opportunities are there just waiting to be missed.

The kids get a lot of gifts that blink, babble, sing out tunes, and recite the alphabet, and a few deliver verses that could be incantations from devil worshipers trying to poison the mind of children because I have absolutely no idea what is being said.

One toy became Addison’s favorite. It was an orange piano, and he loved the little button with the face of a little girl that sang. The songs were hypnotizing and the family made up our own version – it was irresistible.

Oopa oopa say I do ‘cause I got a rubber lion.

We also have a cow that drives an utter and moos. About once a day, the cow moos from a distant room - maybe the wind jiggles the utter or maybe it’s those imps and sprites reaching out for our souls.