I can't help it -- I have to share a cute kid story.

So Sara's standing on her bed, telling jokes (she's seen The Amanda Show on Nick with her brother) that include such original gems as, "What does shark do on a fishie? ... Swim!" She ends her act, and Ben and I tell her, "Take a bow, take a bow!" as we mime the action.

Crickets, as she looks at us.

Finally, she sort of salutes and says proudly, "Tinkerbell!"

Oh, billytea, that's incredibly sweet.

Isn't it? I'm pretty sure that a pen is a symbolic gift here, indicating intelligence. So that's nice too. I'm intrigued by the children's exercise book too, it's rather more complex than the other ones I've seen.

I'm pretty sure that a pen is a symbolic gift here, indicating intelligence.

Or maybe it's because "pen" are the first three letters of "penguin."

OK, probably not.

Or maybe it's because "pen" are the first three letters of "penguin."

Ah, not in Chinese. In Chinese it's 企鹅 (I'm curious to see if that comes out), or qĭ’é in Pinyin. It means, roughly speaking, 'goose standing on tiptoe'. And the Chinese for Echidna is 'spiny mole'! It's very charming.

Oh, jeez. I don't even want to think what type I am.

You're so totally Carrie Fisher. Like Carrie Fisher if she were blond. (Remind me next time you're in SF to tell you my CF story. She is awesome.)

And I'm dying at "take a bow" becoming "tinkerbelle"!!

And now I wanna see the Quiznos commercial.

And I also love Matilda in the A's cap. But she needs a Giants cap, too, methinks.

Finally, she sort of salutes and says proudly, "Tinkerbell!"

Hee. Did y'all clap? I'm just wondering if that's where the Tinkerbell came from.

I love trying to figure out kids' brains. When I was little, I thought you could get money from McDonalds because I saw mom getting change.

And I'm dying at "take a bow" becoming "tinkerbelle"!!

Ah. You're much better at this than I am.

And now I wanna see the Quiznos commercial.

Me too!!

But she needs a Giants cap.

No comment.

The hotel left a carnation in my room with a "Happy Valentines" note attached.

Hee. Did y'all clap? I'm just wondering if that's where the Tinkerbell came from.

You didn't clap hard enough! Tinkerbell's DEAD!

Matilda's features are becoming so dainty and refined! I think she really resembles Emmett.

billytea, Wallybee is certainly thoughtful--and sweet, and romantic. you guys are the cutest.

Girl Scout Cookie.

Thin Mint? Or Samoa?

Mmmmm...girl scouts.

Finally, she sort of salutes and says proudly, "Tinkerbell!"

Ha!

We're watching American Splendor. Damn, I'd forgotten how good this movie is. It was when I first felt the Paul Giamatti love.