They Sure Grow up Fast

A Friday Hodgepodge

1. My son did a great job on his Beetlejuice costume and makeup. "My son, the Tim Burton fan, as Beetlejuice," is what I captioned the shots I sent around.

His school allowed costumes during the day, yesterday, and he told me that people kept asking him who he was -- and not as in which character are you? (I was tempted to post a photo of him here, despite my blog policy because he was almost unrecognizeable.)

I remember holding him as a baby during writing time like it was yesterday.

Compared to his sister as a baby, he slept like a log.

Image by Laura Rivera, via Unsplash, license.

2. My daughter's been using AI to study algebra, by having it create word problems.

The way she described using it sounds like good way to study: She has to understand the material well enough to give it instructions, and she has to evaluate whether it's a good problem. Then, of course, she has to solve it.

She's been breaking curves for her class, just like her old man did, and is a regular on the honor roll.

3. My son and I sometimes watch true crime shows together. Once, during a Forensic Files rerun, he volunteered the following heuristic for eliminating the guilty party: If someone's being interviewed about the crime, that person is innocent.

It's not always true, of course, but I thought it was observant.

4. Coming full circle: The kids started cotillion classes a few weeks ago. (Yeah, I didn't know what they were, either, until my New Orleanian wife brought up the idea.)

The kids find them interesting, and I think it's a great idea, based on my early acquaintance with my wife.

We were in the same loose social circle of graduate bioscience/medical students. I found her self-confidence very attractive, but was somewhat puzzled and miffed by our friendly, but very short conversations. I always wanted to keep talking, but she'd politely excuse herself and go elsewhere.

She was working the room as she had learned to do in her cotillion classes. My wife naturally projects confidence, but I'm sure the classes helped her there, too -- on top of this repeatedly leaving me wanting to talk more with this pleasant, intelligent woman.

I now jokingly "blame" her classes for her ensnaring me in her charms, and am glad my kids will learn proper adult etiquette.

-- CAV