Trivial.

Two or three questions, depending on your view of mathematics;

a) What is the highest number that Benji has counted to on his own, keeping in mind that Benji is not yet two years old?

b) In an effort to better my physical condition, I'm following the current faddish thinking and focusing on low-volume, high-intensity strength training rather than aerobic exercise. (Okay, so the current faddish thinking would ideally have me do both, but c'mon.) In my strength-training program, I more-or-less isolate ten different body parts -- Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Calves, Chest, Upper Back, Shoulders, Triceps, Biceps, Abs, Lower Back -- and lift weights with them via those lifting machine thingies. For one of these body parts, I can do 12+ reps of 180 lbs. For another, I can barely do 10 reps of 45 lbs. Which of the body parts is the 180, and...

b') ...which is the 45?

At the Zoo

At the beginning of the summer, moM and daD came out to visit us in our little temporary apartment and to get their Benji fix. Our big day trip during that visit was the Lincoln Park Zoo. Benji certainly liked the animals more than his last zoo visit (after all, he now knows the words for some of them), although the rocks were still more interesting. I think his favorite animal this time was the giraffe (also a favorite animal in his Noah's Ark toy and his animal puzzle).

"Oooh, Gramma! This rock is bigger than the other ones I've played with!"


"Let's see if I can climb the rock..."


"Yep, I sure am good at rock climbing, with Gramma's help."


"Hmmm... Giraffes or Gramma? Which is more fun to watch?"


"Ooh! Little rocks! And plants, too!" There was a conservatory next to the zoo that we took a little walk through. I think Benji rather liked it since so much more was at his eye level than the high fences around the big animals at the zoo.


You can never have too many big rocks to climb.


In the children's zoo there was this section of pipes set up like the old "telephones" — you talk in one tube and someone else listens at the other end. Benji thought this was pretty cool. And, it was just fun to run around among them.


At the beginning of the summer Benji was still a thumb sucker. Sometime over the summer, though — and we're not quite sure when — he just quit on his own. We hadn't even considered yet trying to get him to stop so I guess this is just one more way we should be thankful for such a cooperative child.


In another exhibit in the children's zoo you could get up close and personal with one of the animals in this tunnel. Benji was totally oblivious to the animal, however, and just loved standing in the tunnel. So much so that we had to pull him out so other kids could visit with the animal. What animal was it?


Yep. Still in the tunnel...


Benji and Grampa check out some animals in the monkey house.


Funny potty humor toddler story ahead: So Benji is coming up on the time for toilet training. He loves coming in the bathroom with us and has taken to telling us when he is peeing or pooping. So in the monkey house one of the monkeys (I think the black one at the top of the photo) pooped while we were there. Of course all the kids cried "eww!". Benji joined in and cried out "poop!" very proudly. I think that was his favorite animal moment of the day. Rock climbing and monkey poop. Yep, those are my kid's favorite parts of the zoo.

Libellés : Benji

Trivial.

In the time since we've been Internetless, two of my all-time favorite pieces of trivia ever have had new relevance. I give them to you now, along with a third all-time favorite piece of trivia that, to throw you off track, has no new relevance. In no particular order:

a) How many years after the phone was invented was the workable fax machine invented? (Within, oh, five years or so.)

b) Which active NFL player has the highest career passer rating?

c) What was Orson Welles' final film?

You never know how much you love something until it goes away.

After about a month without Internet at our home, we finally are rewired, so to speak. Expect more posts than the (almost none) you've been getting recently.