Ernie Tee Shirt

This evening, Aimee was watching one of her favorite shows, John and Kate plus eight, a TV show about a married couple with a set of twins and sextuplets. During this episode, the whole family visited Sesame Place, an amusement park in Pennsylvania. Due to the fact I am currently reading a book about a Professor's years of experience studying baboons in the wild of Africa, watching the show (for a moment) brought to mind a childhood experience involving summer camp and an Ernie Tee Shirt.

The book is tiled A Primate's Memoir and documents the author's years in Kenya studying baboons as a graduate student. The chapters alternate between describing observations of a troop of baboons and the wildly different culture in Africa than that of his life in the United States.

How does this all relate?

When I was around six years old, I went to a summer camp. On one fateful day, my mother laid out an Ernie Tee Shirt to wear. To three-year olds at the time, Ernie and Bert were bigger than The Beatles. For a six or seven year old, wearing an Ernie and Bert Tee Shirt was like break dancing at a funeral...a major faux pas. Had I sported a Star Wars or Dukes of Hazard Tee Shirt, I would have been safe. I didn't know any better. All I knew was that I needed to wear a shirt, period. Actually, had my mother not laid out any clothes, I probably would have been fine leaving the house in just socks and sneakers. I would probably have been more comfortable anyway (during that hot summer) with the exception of sitting on the Yellow School Bus seat.

Anyway, I was the lowest baboon on the totem pole that day. I was encircled by mini-baboons (I mean children) and ridiculed without mercy. I actually didn't even know I had a big target (I mean "Ernie") on my chest until I got on the school bus. This lasted the whole day. I found this puzzling, as I never actually paid attention to what other kids wore. I only noticed pretty girls and kids who smelled bad. That day taught me that that you have to pay attention what to the clothes you wear...I finally caught on at some point..I think it was when I reached 30..maybe a few years before . After that day, I bid farewell to my Ernie Tee Shirt. Good-bye, old friend. We had a good Go of it, you and me. No disrespect to you, my brothah. It's just the times, man. You dig? I'll keep rockin if you keep rockin. Good luck, Broseph.

Baby Lil'

Baby Lil' is our little girl's Rap Name. Simple. Descriptive. Telling.

Aimee's Rap Name: Momma Lil'.

We have two dogs, so why not give them Rap Names as well:

Ginny: 4Eva Baby. Because she'll always be our baby. She'll never grow up and go to college or Beauty School or whatever.

Darla: Lil' D. Just sounds good.

Me? Em Ro'. Same configuration as J Lo. Don't be fooled by the rocks I don't got. Used to have a little..now I have a little..so on and so forth..

EMAIL ADJUSTMENTS

If you happen to have an address for me in ANY of your contact lists with my email address minus the 'S', REMOVE THAT ADDRESS. It is going to the incorrect person who does not appreciate receiving my emails.

While I do not misspell my own email address, there are others who do and I'm not getting your emails.

Thanks!

Aimee

Dog Days of Summer

Not much happening, but the following:

- In August, Aimee's friends Julie and Sandy are throwing a baby shower with my Mom. Aimee's Mom is coming in from Texas. We are looking forward to it.

- We think we have decided on a name for our little toots. Naming dogs is easier.

- We saw "Mama Mia" yesterday. Hmm. Not bad...but not great.

- It's too hot outside.

- Since I haven't had time to buy razors, I have a beard. I am thinking of shaving it down to a stache.

- Our friend Vincent stayed with us this past week. He accompanied me on my morning and evening dog walks. I think that deep down, he may just like dogs.

- Lately, I've been reading articles related to the economy.

- I hate going to the grocery store, but have been going a lot lately. Well, not a lot, but for me it is. Aimee is pregs so she gets special treatment. Don't get used to it.

- Lately, I've been looking up cars on the Internet. Good gas mileage is favorable, but not when safetey is an issue.

- I got a hair cut today. The lady who cut it accussed me of self cuttage because it was all kinds of lengths and the back was growing into a mullet. I confessed immediately. I haven't had the time to get it cut. I gave her a good tip. Yes, I sometimes cut my own hair.

- I appreciate air conditioning.

Aimee entertains herself

With the impending arrival of a new family member, we are ever so slowly getting our house in order. On Saturday, we finished our guest room. As a team, Aimee and I installed a new set of blinds. Aimee chose special "block out the sun" blinds to prevent the morning light from awakening a sleeper too early. We both felt very pleased with our efforts: no clutter, new bedding, new mattress pad, new fixtures and the new blinds. Visually, the room is uncluttered and modestly decorated. It's nice. As we walked out of the finished room, I did not know that Aimee was not yet finished.

Later in the day, I took a shower in order to get ready for a dinner in Bethesda with our friend (and my colleague) Vincent, who is currently in town from Paris. He was staying with us for the evening, and his visit gave us more of a reason to finish the room. As I left the bathroom, I noticed Aimee in the hall, standing lopsided, like a drunken homeless man. She stood this way because she was trying to control her laughter. She had a smirk on her face. Did you see the guest room? Go take a look! I added a picture (trying to act non chalant, yet as transparent as glass).

I walked over to the guest bedroom, and took a look. Nothing seemed out of place: a bed, a night stand, a painting on the wall. Then, I looked at the night stand. On the night stand and next to a candle, sat a framed picture. Just one picture in the entire room. The framed photo was a picture of me ..like a head shot. As I shook my head, I envisioned Vincent setting down his bags, taking a look around the room and noticing that the only framed photo in the room was a picture of me smiling.

Aimee walked around the hall for a good minute and giggled while trying to keep herself upright. It's clear that it is much more difficult for a very pregnant woman to remain standing on two feet while laughing. I wasn't sure if I was more amused by the picture or by Aimee's sheer delight in her little project. This wasn't a quick job. She had to think about it, find an appropriate photo, and place it in a nice frame with a goal of completing her task before I walked out of the bathroom.

When Vincent walked in the room, he saw the humor as well. Then he immediately picked up the frame and turned it face down on the end table.

Aimee's Love Notes

Evidently, Aimee has something against coffee grinds in the sink. Nice penmanship!

Aimee also prefers her toothpaste tube to be capped 24 hours a day. Her message is simple: "Toothpaste"

Aimee thought these attached twin cherries looked like a butt, so she took a picture.

Finally, a picture that demonstrates the comfort level of Darla.