September 12, 2005

Austin comes home from school Friday telling me he is auditioning for a solo part in an upcoming musical. He has zero vocal ability. Hmmmm, I say to him, you can't sing, so how will this work out for you? He says, the first two solo parts I have on goofy glasses, a pocket protector, and my hair is supposed to stick up all over. The part requires me to sing off key. Okay, I say, that sounds like you can do that. Then he says, with a suspensful tone to his voice, the third time I sing, I whip off the glasses, shake out my hair, roll up my sleeves and become this cool guy who sings in this really good voice. He's very excited. Well, I say to him, the looking cool part I can buy into, but what will the audience think when you sing in the same off key voice as the nerd guy you were before? He grins and shakes his head, I've obviously missed the beauty part of his scheme. Moooooom, he rolls his eyes, I'll look so hot as the cool guy no one will care I can't sing.

I must admit, that theory has worked for many, many huge musical acts throughout the ages so he may just have a point.

Sept 7, 2005

Today we start into a stretch of never ending ballgames. Baseball, basketball, baseball again, football.....you get the idea. With gas prices at a premium, the boys playing sports has become an entirely new kind of luxury.

We live in a huge metro area where ball fields are scattered far and wide. Admission to the games is free, if you don't count the 50 dollars it takes to drive to the field. But can you really put a price on learning to navigate the world of pissed off team mates, angry coaches, and screaming parents? I don't think so.