Whale of a Day

Apparently Mom can't sit still long enough to write. So I've hired Dad as my personal videographer. Someone's gotta help me keep up with my adoring fans. (That means you, Angie).


Zaya's Whale Of A Day from Jonathan on Vimeo.

The Sandlot

A Moment With Zaya - Winter Training from Jonathan on Vimeo.

StoryTunes: The Next Generation

All Dressed Up With No Place To Go

Don't you love those lazy afternoons when you get to put on last year's Halloween costume, grab the remote and hang out, watchin' a little TV?

Maybe it's just me...

Rainy Day Schedule

I'm sure you've probably guessed by now that I'm one of those get-out-there-and-experience-the-day kinda kids. No matter where we've been, whenever we're on our way home, one of the things I always say to Mom and Dad, "I want to go someplace eeelllllllllsssssssse!" Sure I'm learning a new appreciation for quiet time, thanks to the Surprise Box, but there's just so much out in the world to see and do. I don't want to miss a minute.

And as far as I'm concerned, things don't change when it rains. I say I've got a jacket, Mom's got an umbrella...let's hit the road! So this morning the three of us bundled up and headed out to breakfast at Corner Bakery. I love that place. They make the best oatmeal and muffins in town. Don't take my word for it, just ask Mom. I think she could eat there everyday too, if she had the chance.

After enjoying my nice hot oatmeal (with all the toppings) and the pumpkin muffin I was supposed to share with Mom (I think I accidentally ate her share), we hopped back in the car. The plan was to go back home, until Dad mentioned going to the toy store to buy a game. I didn't really know what he was talking about, but I wasn't about to pass up a trip to the toy store. So the next stop was Toys'R'Us.

Mom and Dad seemed to think we should just go straight to the game section and leave, but I couldn't stand for that. So I made sure we got to see all the different sections of the store. I spent some time (briefly, thanks to the anxious kid next to me) with some kind of a video game exercise bike before going straight to my favorite section of the store...the trains. I had to stop and stare at the Polar Express train that I visit every time we go to the store. I keep trying to tell Mom and Dad that we should take it home, but they keep insisting that it's a "birthday" or "Christmas" type of gift. So I'll just have to settle for the occasional visit at the store until then I guess.

When we got home dad pulled this game out of the bag for us to play. I have to admit, it was pretty fun. There was a mat with all these colorful polka dots and a spinner! How can you not love a spinner? I'm still not clear on the point of the game, though. Seems to me you just get your hands and feet all twisted up until you fall down. After awhile I just started falling down on purpose to avoid all the unnecessary hand and foot confusion.

Mom and Dad seem to really like that game, though. They were laughing so hard, talking about how they used to play it a long time ago. I guess this game is kinda famous. I can see why...It was pretty entertaining watching them try to hold their hands and feet in place and then tumble onto the floor. I thought I was the only one who liked to do that.

Hmmmm...rainy day oatmeal and muffins, trips to the toy store, fall-on-the-floor tumble games...maybe the parents are a little cooler than I thought.

Maybe.

Rails and Tales

Have you ever wished for a day that didn't end? That's what Sunday was like for me. I mean, think about it...trains rides, story time, music, new friends, blue skies and sunshine...what more could a kid want? (Except maybe a brand new Speed Racer helmet, but Mom says that's a little off-topic, so just forget I even mentioned it).

I have to say that Mom and Dad's re-introduction of StoryTunes to the public was a big success. Tons of people came out to Wilson Park to ride the rails of Southern California Live Steamers and to sing along to some pretty cool train songs and stories. This here computer savvy train fan checked out their website and found that they had 1,966 passengers on Sunday! Of course, I think that includes the folks who hop back in line again (and again) for more free rides. I guess that means they counted me four times. Me and Papa are gonna have to look into some kind of frequent rider program.

Anyhow, even though they're my parents, I have to give Mom and Dad the proper credit...they really rocked it. They had all these kids out there singin' "Down By the Station" and shakin' their cabooses (so to speak). Heck, I'm the hardest to impress, and even I didn't get tired of reading along with "Clickety Clack" after three performances.

And from all the smiling faces I saw that day, I think it's safe to say everyone had a great time. Mom said she even talked to someone from the Lomita Train Museum and some kindergarten teachers who want us to come do StoryTunes shows for them! Hmmm...I might have to invest in a second set of train pants if we're gonna take this show on the road.

Our day in the park ended on a high note when I finally got my hands on some ice cream from the ice cream truck that had been sitting in the parking lot, taunting me all day. When Mom took me to the truck to choose an ice cream, it was a little overwhelming. I mean, there's all these pictures of Spongebob, Spiderman and all kinds of colorful sweet treats. I settled on a Dora ice cream, which Mom seemed pretty pleased with. Until she opened it and found out that Dora's eyes were made of black gumballs. And she said it didn't help matters that I was spending more time looking at Dora than eating, so most of her ended up melted all over me and my train pants. But you didn't hear me complaining.

I was pretty sad when we packed up to leave for the day. Who likes having to say goodbye to friends and fun times? But later Mom said that the train club liked us so much, we get to go back once a month! Talk about good news. After hearing that, I didn't even care anymore about not getting a new Speed Racer helmet. (Oh wait, I wasn't supposed to mention that...)

Helmet? What helmet? (Just play along, Mom's watching). I don't know anything about a helmet. Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta wash my train pants and polish up my singing voice. Being part of a famous storytelling team isn't easy.

...and sometimes you don't.

So the verdict is in...after a visit to my new friend Dr. Buchsbaum this morning, I can officially say I'm allergic to peanuts. He also said there's a good chance I'm allergic to pistachios and cashews as well. I don't even think I know what either of those things are, and I guess I won't be finding out. He said it's best for me to just avoid all three of those pesky nuts.

These results came after Mom explained everything to the doctor about my recent trip to the ER. He spent a few minutes asking questions and typing all of Mom's answers into this cool little computer. He said something about his office being "paperless." Maybe some people are allergic to paper! Who knows, but I could swear I saw some paper in that place.

Mom must have passed the test with all those questions because next thing I knew we were headed down the hall to a different room where this nice nurse asked me to take my shirt off. I thought that was awfully forward of her, especially in front of my parents. But they didn't seem to mind so I figured...why not!?! She asked me to lay down on my tummy on this little table. I was glad I brought Froggy with me...found out he makes for a very comfortable pillow.

I was confused about what was going on because then the nurse took a rubber stamp and stamped me twice on the back. Now I know I've only got four years of experience in this wacky world of ours, but this did not seem like normal medical procedure to me. Mom said that she stamped numbers on my back. If this was supposed to be some kind of educational tool, I couldn't figure out why she would put it on my back where I can't see it. And what the heck did any of this have to do with peanuts, anyway??

After the nurse put the stamp away, she came back and poked me in the back with a funny little white thing. It felt weird and tingly, like she was poking me all these different places at the same time. It didn't hurt though, so I just hung out there, laying with Froggy and showing off my muscles. I was a little insulted however, cuz the nurse said the doctor would come back to check on me and then she left. But then I realized she probably just went to tell all of the other nurses about her really cool and cute patient. Who could blame her?

When Dr. Buchsbaum came back, he talked to Mom and Dad about the results of the test and explained all the little numbers on my back. Mom said I had a few bumps, which made sense because I did feel kind of itchy. The doctor said these bumps were important because they show what things I'm allergic to. Then he gave Mom a piece of paper (must have been some kind of new "paperless paper," obviously) with all these instructions on it and some stuff about medicines. I wasn't really paying attention. That is, until the doctor told me what a great job I did and laughed when I gave myself a thumbs up. He said I certainly deserved it.

The doctor said we have to always remember, everywhere we go, to warn people about my allergies so they don't give me anything to eat with those three nuts in it. I figured a good way to start would be to broadcast it here. So while I really do appreciate your offers for Peanut M&M's or sandwiches made with cashew butter, I'm afraid I'll have to pass. Trust me, it's nothing personal. Just doctor's orders.

That's alright, I'm not too worried about missing out on the nuts. Now if it were pizza I was allergic to, that would be a whole different story.