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First Words Pippin said his first word the other night. We've had the Tiny Dinosaur for a few years now. He's about four years old or so. So far, he hadn't managed (or found the courage to try) human words, but his repertoire of sounds included:
We were beginning to despair of every hearing him try a human word. There's a suspicion that he's been trying it in secret, whispering it at the wall to perfect it. We rarely hear a new noise half-formed - he only unveils it when it's perfect. We have caught him murmuring something that might be a word several times, but it's been indistinct and hasn't been repeated.
And then he said it. Quiet, but completely audible and clear. "Hello." The books say that when the parrot makes a sound you liked or want to encourage, you should show him affection and attention instantly. Well we muted the TV and smothered the little bugger in affection. I think we scared it out of him. No amount of coaxing got him to repeat it, and we haven't heard it since. But it was there. I feel like such a proud parent. Oh, and my new office space? Very, very small. I'm getting intimate knowledge about our new graphics guy.
I know, I know. It's two weeks in and you haven't heard from me on Survivor. I'm short of time these days, so I won't go into a great deal of detail. The big non-secret was, of course, that the tribes would be split along the sex lines. Men over here, women over there. So far, the men kick butt in making camp. The women... Okay, I know women who are good at the outdoors. Lots of them. I've learned survival training from them. My Mom could survive -40 degrees on the top of a mountain, for Monkey's sake. (By the way, Monkey is my new expletive. Try it. 'Oh, Monkey!' 'Stupid Monkey!' My personal favorite: 'Monkey Butter!') These women... Wow. They can't even fashion little cakes out of the flour they were so generously given. No, they're just dumping it in the pot and burning it to a crisp, or soaking it in water and drinking it. Ugh. Still, they've won three out of the last four challenges, so they can't be doing too badly. Too many more nights sleeping in the rain and they're all toast though. My official pick on the pool is Dave Johnson, who is a bona fide rocket scientist. I picked him because in his bio he says he'll take his winnings and open a beef jerky company. That's funny. I think he's a bit too anal though, and he's going to get on nerves with his whole 'honesty at all costs' bit. I doubt he'll win. Right now I'm pegging Rob as an early leader, because that boy knows how to keep his head down. Out of the girls, I see Jeanne going far, simply because she's a tough cookie. But Heidi is the real surprise, because despite her supermodel looks and sculpted figure ("She can be rebuilt!"), she's proving to be a solid athlete and very good-natured. My picks for next week: If the guys lose, Roger is gone. If the girls go to council again, it's a toss-up between Christy and Joanna. Christy's deafness is a big liability, but Joanna is way, WAY too loud with her whole Christian attitude. You know, if you believe so strongly in the commandment about idol worship that you refuse to touch the Immunity Idol and demand it be removed from the campsite, if you think even having it near angers God, what the hell are you doing in the game in the first place. It's not like the idol is a big surprise or anything.
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Sunday
night, we're sitting on the cough watching the Simpsons. Pippin is sitting
on Lisa's shoulder, messing with her hair.
