Exaltin’ Pepper

The fruit—singular, mind you—of our labor: We managed to grow one measly sweet pepper in our pepper pots—plural, mind you—this summer.

Men Among Books

As a man who reveres the game of soccer, I was inclined to enjoy a book titled Soccer Men. Simon Kuper’s anthology of player profiles was equal parts voyeuristic and fantastic, and this book is a commendable follow-up to his trophy-worthy Soccernomics.

The Corn Wasn't the Only Thing That Was Sweet on This Day

Cousin Quintin paid a visit with his dad and mom—she who’s carrying a growing ear of corn in her cob—for an afternoon of fun at the children’s museum and sweet-corn festival.

Lake Eerie

Reed and I hit the road in search of adventure. We stopped at a manmade lake just north of where we live. Our region has been beaten down by the oppressive summer heat, and this area was no exception. Its shores were made craggy, water levels dangerously low, and verdancy a relic of the past. To be honest, the time we spent there was the opposite of serene and pleasant, and so the two of us quietly retreated back to our sunbaked town.

Third Is the Word

Third grade, that is. And here’s a look back at Olivia’s other first days/weeks:

Second grade

First grade

Kindergarten

Make Hay While the Son Shines

Sub Standard

I must admit something: I’m writing this post about Submarine months after viewing it. Since I’m struggling to remember the premise of the movie, let alone a single detail of it, I’m thinking it sank toward the bottom my list of espied films for the year.

One(s) for the Books

The book buddies are constantly turning pages together.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

You can say that this is a case of the boba not trailing too far the lead tapioca pearl up the fat straw.

Pun-ditry

A wise man (Brandon) once quoted a wise man who said the following:

 “Puns are like children: you love your own, and can’t stand anyone else’s.”

John Pollack, a former speechwriter for President Clinton, has written a book on the history of puns. He’s an expert of humorous wordplay—he captured the 1995 O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships crown. He better hope that books on puns don’t follow the same logic as the quote above.

Hold the Feline

Olivia snuggled her tiger cub of a brother before he made his way to the face painter and grasslands.

Over the Moonrise

Four words: Directed by Wes Anderson.

Four more: Good enough for me.

Beyond the Pelada

This is the film version of Gwendolyn Oxenham’s book on pick-up soccer around the world, and so it kicked up my jealousies once again.

Fish Food

Food-themed movies are easy to review. Good ones can be called “delectable,” while “vomitous” might best describe the not-so-good ones. Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary about a master sushi chef, his exact food-preparation techniques, and his understated three-Michelin-star restaurant located in the basement of a Japanese office building, can best be described as “exquisite” and “scrumptious."

Three Amigas

In the past week, Beni was able to visit with three of her close friends of yesteryear. Here they are, in order of appearance:

With Katie, friend from junior high

With Lilly, friend from college

With Sarah, roommate from college

What About Boba?

This pit stop was sponsored by a tea stand in Columbus’s North Market.

Missing Lincoln

A trip to D.C. would not be complete—at least for our family’s Lincoln Scholar—without a visit to the Ford’s Theatre. We stopped for the exhibits and presentation, just as we did two years ago, but this time we also headed across the street afterward for a tour of the Peterson House, where President Lincoln was taken after being shot in the theatre and ultimately died.

The Peterson House features a three-story cylindrical tower made up of approximately 7,000 books about the 16th president. I think Olivia’s read half—or 1.5 stories—of them.

On DC Street

Actually, several streets: We were in full-tourist mode, making our way from the Mall to several Smithsonians to the White House, before heading out for Georgetown in search of a cupcake place Liz saw featured on TV. Joining us in the sweltering fun were the aforementioned aunt and my mother-in-law.

Maryland = Land of Merry

It’d been two years since we’d seen Sarah—Beni’s good friend from college—and her family. They live in the greater Baltimore-D.C. metropolitan area, and they’ve been terrific hosts for our occasional excursions to the nation’s capital. Our kids were treated to a visit to the Maryland Science Center at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where they happily played paleontologist and magician’s assistant.

Enter Sandman