Author grimholtz

On Cities

Max: “I don’t like cities.”

Aki: “Why?”

Max: “You know. Nuclear bombs.”

(Several months ago, Max asked if we would die if Russia or China dropped nuclear bombs on America. I told him that we are safe from nuclear bombs because we don’t live anywhere near a city. Cities are where America’s enemies would bomb, not rural areas. God, this reminds me of the same fear I had when growing up during the Cold War and watching movies like The Day After. I showed parts of that movie to Max a few months ago, and maybe I shouldn’t have. He remembers the people “turning to skeletons” during the blasts; supposedly an x-ray effect they’re not really turning into skeletons. I don’t want him suffering this same pointless fear I did as a child, but I think it’s too late. #parentingmistakes)

 

Things Max Said

January 2017

Max: “Do you know how to make a baby?”

Aki: “How?”

Max: “Put the pee-pee in the a-gina” [I’d already told him this maybe 6 months before]

Aki: “Uh-huh”

Max: “I’m never going to make a baby. I don’t want to do that.”

Aki: “That’s ex-gusting?”

Max: “YEAH!” (In a ‘no-duh’ voice)


“I never want to die because then I have to start school all over.”

“Maybe when I’m grown up, a scientist will make a jection [injection] so you never die.”


“Do you know that’s the best play date I ever had?” (referring to an after-ski party for all the 2nd graders at Imagination Station in Vail)


[talking about global warming, which he learned about in Mr. Lasher’s science class]

Max: “You should go skiing this year because next year there’s going to be more grass.”

Aki: “Momma said you were asking where Santa is going to live?”

Max: “Yeah because he won’t have the North Pole.”

Aki: “Did you know some islands are going to sink?”

Max: “Really? What about the Easter Bunny? Where is going to live when his island sinks? [Easter Island]”

Aki: “Maybe they can both come live with us.”

Max: “No, we don’t have enough space. They need a lot of room for the chocolate factory and the toy shop where the elves work.”


Aki: “You know what happens when you eat too much meat, right?”

Max: “Your straws get full of gunk.”  [arteries, plaque]

 

Some of October, 2016

October 7, 2016

Max, Karolina, and I go to dinner at Delight Noodle Bowl. Larry the International Student counselor at CMC Edwards is there with his wife. Then we go to see:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

missperegrine

 

Aki & New Cat

aki-newcat

 

Deer in Backyard

deer-in-yard

 

Jewish Aki

jewish-aki

Murdered

I went to VMS with David Bentley. David picked me up at the house.

Karolina in a text msg: “Eric — Max thinks you got murdered because your car is here and you are not.”

 

GeoCaching & Eagle Historical Museum

September 3, 2016

We went geo-caching, and found this cache near the Eagle County Fairgrounds after maybe 10-15 minutes of searching. Then we went up the street to the museum…

Eagle County Historical Museum

The Geo Cache near Eagle County Fairgrounds

p_20160903_150643p_20160903_150701p_20160903_150716p_20160903_150804

And other stuff…

 

Another Day

It’s been almost *2 weeks* since we went to Fulford Cave (Monday, Aug 22). I can’t believe it. Saturday, Aug 27, 2016, Max and I went boating with Enrique and Ines on Sylvan Lake. And now this is Max’s first week of 2nd grade.

 

August, 2016

August 6, 2016

We are at the VPAA play, “Xanadu” at the Villar in Beaver Creek. Max loved it. After the show, we got pizza with AJ and some of the cast his age.

Text messages between me and Karolina:

Aki: “We are getting pizza with ajay and some of the cast.”

K: “That’s great !! Thank you for going with him.”

Aki: “He’s playing with the 5 or6 kids who played ‘the rock band’ on stage and now we were invited to AJ’s party tomorrow 4:30 at the Trailhead where some of the cast will celebrate.”

K: “That is great but you have to be home at 5:30 and get ready for changed for the dinner.”

Aki: “Omg, he wants to see the play again.”

K: “Have fun :)”

Aki: “We are going backstage. Next show is at 6:30 [this was at 5:15]. We sat behind Tatum and the Blatts were here, even Anric.”

Aki: “Max just met the lead actors and was blushing shy but so excited. He LOVES it. ‘I wanna be here all the time. When is the next play coming? Can you sign me up for the next play? Can we go tomorrow, too?’

Tomorrow night Chris Isaac plays on the same stage, so Max stood on the stage where large acts perform, saw the Green Room, dressing rooms, etc.


August 7, 2016

.We had a catered dinner at our house with Ray and Jean Oglethorpe and Cocha Helen and Everett. The caterer is named Shaun and is very friendly.

Max: “Is Shaun part of our family now?”

August 16, 2016

I’m living in Denver for a few weeks while working at Hubble. Karolina writes in text messages to me…

K: “That’s a tiny lobster and his name is Ghost.”

Me: “Wow, you bought him?”

K: “Yes he didn’t cost a lot and all he needs are some vegetable pellets every three days.”

K: “I told Max that we will feed him until he is big and juicy then we will have him for Xmas. Organic vegetable fed!!! Kosher!!!

Me: “He is definitely not kosher.”

K: “But he has a name and I can’t eat an animal that has a name.”

ghost-the-lobster

Ghost the lobster

New Cat. The moment that made Karolina bring her home.

gretie-first-phoots

Gretie – first photo – before we adopted her

Still at the shelter with Karolina and Max…

gretie-first-photos-3

Gretie – first photo – before we adopted her

gretie-first-photos-2

Gretie – first photo – before we adopted her

August 18, 2016

Karolina: “I left the new cat out — and she is walking around the house and Pepi is following her around it’s funny to watch.”

Eric: “I wish you’d waited. I’d like to see.” (I’m living in Denver for a few weeks while working at Hubble. Karolina writes in text messages to me.)

K: “I am sorry — I felt sorry for leaving her in the room the whole day.”

August 20, 2016

Max and I read this book in bed. The school gave it to him, I think, or perhaps Sherri his reading therapist. One Hen.

one_hen_book

August 21, 2016

Max’s 8-year-old signature.

max-signature-vpaa-082016

August 24, 2016

Karolina in text message: “Rhonda sent me 6 messages on Facebook. I just want her to leave me alone. I will ignore her messages but when she asks me I will say that I have a job, I am very busy, etc. Why do I have to deal with that shit!!??!!?!”

“I can’t believe like a ten year old — I have to face Rhonda otherwise she will never go away. I will tell her that I am very busy that I am working. If she asks why I talk to her — I will tell her the truth: there was a point when I realized that she will talk about me like she does about everybody else — I will tell her to pls stay friendly our kids are in the same school. I wish her all the best but don’t want to be involved in anything else.”

Me and Max in Enrique’s Boat

August 27, 2016

Me, Max, Enrique, and Ines at Ruedi Reservoir.

July 30, 2016

Max: “Aki, what’s your favorite thing to do?”

Aki: “I don’t know.”

Max: “Do you like you who are?”

And then the next day (July 31, 2016):

Max: “What do you like about yourself?”

When I asked him the same question: “I like about myself that I have lots of toys.”


Fiddler on the Roof in Leadville (July 30, 2016 again)

fiddlerontheroof

 Fiddler on the Roof in Leadville

Karolina: “I think that’s hilarious !!! Audition to it!! You are authentic!! They will love you !!”

Aki: “But it ‘s a musical! Singing…”

Karolina: “So?? Be a stand in.”

Aki: “Ok. We should at least go see the performance in November. It’s at a church!”

Karolina: “A Jewish musical in a church !! That’s great – Mendelssohn would be happy.”

[It turned out the play was canceled and they performed something else instead. Not enough people auditioned.]


We have lunch in a Mexican restaurant, and Max starts singing “It’s Raining Tacos From the Sky”


I picked this up in the Leadville antique store, and Max says, “Oh, CDs!”

cds

Santa Claus’s Belly

Max: “In my next life, I hope I will be born in Santa Claus’s belly. Then I can get whatever I want!”

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