2003-07-04-11:45 p.m.
We had a crazy, busy July 4th. We went to the zoo in the morning and cavorted in their play area with a man made creek. Ro baby loves splashing and climbing around on the rocks.

Ro baby's favorite animal is the penguin. I think he likes them best because they're usually quite frisky. Everything else he's relatively indifferent to. I don't blame him. I've never been able to figure out if I like the zoo or not. Most of the time it seems like animal prison.

We went to a picnic in the afternoon and then fireworks at night. Ro baby was so quiet and still during the fireworks. I was surprised. I was worried he might be frightened by the loud booming but he didn't seem to be, although he held daddy's hand the whole time.

Friday Five

1. What were your favorite childhood stories?
Fairy tales from any country. I especially loved a story about a princess who had to weave reed mats to transform a bunch of swans back into princes. She didn't finish the last one, so one prince ended up having a swan wing instead of an arm.

2. What books from your childhood would you like to share with [your] children?
Well, I've given up on that already. Ro baby won't even look at a book unless it features a vehicle of some sort. Where as I'm not into vehicles at all. I expect to share things like Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel although I'd rather share some Beatrix Potter.

3. Have you re-read any of those childhood stories and been surprised by anything?
German fairytales are unbelievably vicious. All those insanely evil stepmothers. I still like most of the books I liked then. I pretty much avoid books I thought were strange like Island of the Blue Dolphins, which my mother read to me when I was in kindergarten or first grade. It maybe a good book because it won a Newberry and all but it's too freaky for a first grader. It was sad and scary. Apparently, it's based on a true story though. I suppose I should look at it again. I liked Where the Red Fern Grows, but that book broke my heart when the dogs died, so I've never wanted to read it again either.

4. How old were you when you first learned to read?
I learned to read at Montessori school, so maybe 4??

5. Do you remember the first 'grown-up' book you read? How old were you?
I can't remember my first adult book. However, my first "big" book without pictures was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I was terrified of making the jump from picture books to books without any pictures in them at all. My mother tricked me into it by reading the first chapter and then feigning sleep, which pissed me off and I took the book from her and read it myself. I think I was about to enter third grade, where I went crazy and read 500 books and won a contest. Good ol' Roald Dahl.

yum good chocolate
I bought some of my favorite chocolate this weekend, which is Green & Blacks Maya Gold. It's suitable for vegans. I first had this chocolate in 1993 in England and was completely astounded by it. I'm really happy they sell it in the U.S. now. I've only been eating a few squares a day as I don't typically eat any sort of candy or sweets anymore. It's really lovely.

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