Just-Puppy-Super Hero-Cowboy Jacob

I know it's been three+ weeks since I posted anything.  Keeping on top of life and trying to maintain 2 blogs can be challenging.  (I also write a blog called "the Knitting Doodle").  Oh well, I do what I can.

Today I've been thinking about Jacob.  We are so very fortunate to be able see our grandchildren every week and spend time with them.  Seeing them grow and learn new things is as much fun for us as it is for their parents, I think!

Jacob is at an especially fun age -- 2 1/2 years old.  If he's not pushing the limits of Linda's patience with the curse of the "terrible two's", he's wrapped up in imagination play.  For the last month or so it's been character role-playing.  Jacob has four distinct personas.  And he takes on one of them everyday and stays in character all day!

First, there is Just Jacob.  Just Jacob is simply that -- just Jacob being a little boy playing with cars and balls, running around, laughing, and tumbling around with his brothers.

Second, he becomes Puppy Jacob.  As Puppy Jacob he crawls around on his hands and knees, his tongue hanging out while he pants like ... a dog, of course.  He'll come up beside you and sit waiting for a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears.  He'll chase after a ball that you toss and he speaks only in "woofs"!

Third, there is Super Hero Jacob.  This involves wearing a flannel blanket as a cape.  In this character he'll charge into the room and shout "Super Hero Jacob to the rescue!" Then he'll find dragons and take care of them and save everyone.

Last, there is Cowboy Jacob -- my personal favourite!  When he wakes up as Cowboy Jacob he emerges from his room with his cowboy hat clamped onto his head and clomping around in Anthony's cowboy boots.  The boots are too big, but Linda lets him wear them around the house anyway.  She's in for a challenge, though, if they have to go out and the boots must be left behind.  At least the hat can go with him -- and, surprisingly, he doesn't take it off.  It stays glued to his head through the zoo, the mall, our house, the park ... wherever!  He's pretty good about removing it at the dinner table.  :-)  The funniest part about Cowboy Jacob is that he speaks of himself in the third person:  "Cowboy Jacob is thirsty!"  

I think it must be fun being 2 1/2.  So many things to pretend, so many new things to try,  so many new things to do!  Here's to Just-Puppy-Super Hero-Cowboy Jacob!

Changes ... Yay!

Since Harry became a judge people ask us over and over if we will buy a bigger, newer house?  Kind of boggles my mind because we purposely sold our bigger, newer house to downsize.  It was a conscious choice on our part to get rid of "stuff".  We love our tiny, old, inner city home.  Hey -- it's going to be 100 years old next year!  So, the answer is "No, we're not going to change the way we live."  Why should we?

We did, however make one (kinda big) change.  I have been driving a standard transmission car since 1986.  My current vehicle is a 2005 Mazda Tribute -- totally devoid of any conveniences and with the lightest engine possible in it.  It is a gutless plain Jane vehicle.  But it has it's purpose.  We tow it behind our motor home and because of it's small 4-cylinder engine and lack of luxury, it adds virtually no weight to pull.

For about a year I have been telling Harry I'm sick of driving a standard and would love even the simplest convenience of cruise control.  I've been looking at cars seriously for the last 4-5 months.  Well ... we finally found a vehicle that had everything I was looking for:  automatic, some bells and whistles, comfort, hauling capacity, yet not too big.  Last week I bought a Volvo XC70.  I hadn't been thinking about a European car, but Harry kept suggesting I look at a Volvo.  Last Saturday he took me to a Volvo dealer and ... well ... he was right.  They had the vehicle I was looking for.  I didn't buy new.  I bought a 2008 that looks brand new inside and out and has super low kilometers on it (sorry ... miles); totally tricked out with every bell and whistle possible; and only one owner who purchased it from the dealer then traded it back for a larger SUV.  It even still smells new!

I have never really liked to drive much.  That may change now!

Here's the challenge:  she/he needs a name.  I'm taking any and all suggestions!