Fake Easter and Its Non-Simulacral Double

Well, we celebrated Easter a second time this morning. The Easter Bunny rewarded our patience with a larger quantity of eggs, but placed them in more difficult places, some of them too prickly. But when the Easter Bunny has to arrange matters in the dark, it's not always easy for him to recognize the potential danger in the challenges he poses for our youth.

Indeed, he appears to have been struck by an aesthetically inclined tunnel vision, since many eggs were found in places conducive to photo ops.

Of course, when one's front yard is as drop-unconscious gorgeous as ours is this April, attractive Easter landscapes are easy to come by. The palo verdes in the background aren't ours, technically, but I did work to save them from destruction in the early deliberations of the Northern Heights Homeowner's Association.

Bean was particularly enamored of the pearlescent eggs left behind by Mr. B. For my part, I was happy that Kim sat where I could get numerous presentation-of-the-loot shots.

But what made me happiest of all, aside from my girl's early-morning delight, was that Old Red got to be a part of the festivities. He sure looked proud with that egg tucked under his windshield wiper. You can almost see him smiling as she walks away with it in tow, acknowledging his inclusion in the proceedings.

Maybe it is a little exhausting having the Easter Bunny come twice in one year, but I'm still glad he did.

Don't Look At Me!

I'm amazed how much Skylar is learning in school. She is already starting to study the simplest fractions and multiplication. And the reading comprehension strategies they teach her are excellent. When I tell you what she told me yesterday as we were walking into the Foothills Mall incarnation of Chipotle -- and what is Chipotle except a place to practice incarnation? -- bear in mind that it really didn't come from any conversation that I or her mother had with her: "I want to write a non-fiction novel one day."

My goodness. Now it is true that, when we were sitting at the B & N café later that evening, she would not have been talking about epistemology and ontology without my having brought the subject up. But when she thought about their respective definitions for a minute and then said, "Epistemology is about the schemas we make in our minds," then proceeded to explain how they had been learning what schemas were and how to use them when encountering new material, that connection did not come from me. "I'm going to tell Mrs. Green we should start discussing epistemology," she added, not realizing that the leap she had made from what she had learned in school and what I was talking about is not one that most first graders are prepared to make. To once again quote her mother, "I love my kid."

Not Ready For Departure

I have back-to-back conferences over the next two weekends, which means I'll barely be home between Tuesday evening and May Day. I'm excited about both conferences, but am sad to be leaving just when life at home was getting back on track after numerous disruptions. At least it will be easier for me to get work done, since I'll have all those hours in the air and feeling lonely in hotel rooms to make use of. Maybe I can devise a new birthday, one that won't always fall at the busiest time of the year. I hate the fact that my birthday time is so full of professional stress.