We’re to the 4th of July already, usually around the time we’re finishing up in Washington and then headed to Pennsylvania. The summer has gone quickly so far.
August was sleeping, facing the wrong way, on the lower bed when we got up. He called me up at 8:40. I read some Tristan Strong, which has John Henry and Brer Rabbit in it. We discussed folk tales as we went and brushed our teeth, particularly tricksters and rabbits. August also told me about the mouse that wants to be big and said his favorite is “Kangaroo and Joey Too” and told me the plot.
He went out with Carly for a minute, then came in and we made a parkour course in Minecraft. That was pretty fun. When we were done I made him a quesadilla, then he and Carly were trying to figure out what to put in the basket. He wouldn’t actually agree to any activities, but wanted ‘treat’ in there and got grumpy when Carly . He apologized, and they played chess. I heard him checkmate her and explain “This is called wasting a move…it forces you to line up with my king…checkmate.” He was referring to the king and rook endgame I showed him while brushing our teeth two nights ago and how you have to waste a tempo to make it happen.
They discussed confidential. She thought of nuclear codes. I taught him “on the DL” . We started to play Apples to Apples, but were distracted by something. Carly and I then went out to the car to start figuring out how to change the tire. Got everything out, but decided to wait until later as it was hot.
He ate a mango and I did a little work, then we played more Apples to Apples. He deferred to Carly as jogs on one: “It’s time to be a fair judge today…which is slimier? Just so you know, this one is dada’s and this one is mine.” Carly went to the bank. We went upstairs to wrestle. There were lots of lung shots and rhinos and whatnot.
We came down and watched the newest Mumbo Jumbo and I made a tuna sandwich for him for lunch, and got grapes. He was singing funny songs, but when I tried to take a video he stopped. When I went back to making food he sang, “I’m going to sing a beautiful song, when you’re not recording.” He ate his tuna sandwich and chocolate milk for lunch, then listened to “The Pumpkin Seeds”. He sang, “he learned his lesson, don’t injure a healthy bird, or you’ll get stones” And quoted the story: “You won’t be saying that when I give you half the food in my magic pumpkin.”
In Minecraft we made our own parkour course. I then ‘tricked’ him into reading by saying we’d do it behind Mama’s back. He read the entire Madeline book. Break bread was a word of the day. To inform Carly of this feat I took a photo of him and sent it to her, along with a message that he typed (he’s good enough that he could start to spell each word, then choose the right one from the suggestions). He then delivered Carly’s phone to her outside so she could see it.
Back inside we played piano together for a while. Carly came in and they played chess. It was a crazy game and I watched a bit of it. They did a little chess, then did math. He was adding to get 5 and 6 digit numbers, and doing carrying down. I came and watched, and he asked, “We’re you taking a video of my amazing calculating?” He was then sating, “I love doing this! I love adding!”
Vivian wanted to play Minecraft early, so they did that. Carly joined them, I think to help out Colin. I was working and watching Palestine Expo. We were then going to go to the beach to watch the sunset. I don’t know why I didn’t question going on a Saturday. Probably would have been okay along the boardwalk, or on one of the less popular beaches, but to convince August to go Carly suggested ice cream and Herzliya.
We left at 6:40. He listened to “The Miracles of Snake Oil” on the way and August snacked on dried mango and corn crackers. We drove to the area by the mosque. It was crazy busy in the parking lot, and she got a spot just west, along a street. August refused to get out and walk from there, so we agreed to drive down by town. She parked in her usual spot north of downtown, but August refused to walk to the beach from there, but agreed to head south, looking for ice cream. That led us right into downtown, and around to the ice cream shop. It was busy, so we went to the convenience store next door and August got one of those packaged ice cream cones.
We then walked up the hill towards the medical center. August started to dig in his heels halfway, even as he was working on his ice cream. I got him the last 100 meters or so and across the street to the parking lot and bench area overlooking the beach. All the benches were of course full, and August was ready to turn around. So we saw a nice sunset, but didn’t stay long.
He was fine walking back, and when he saw a tall hotel he said, “Humanity’s getting pretty impressive nowadays.” I told Carly about the bus drive that me and another guy yelled at when he honked at us crossing in a crosswalk (when August and I were down for one of his appointments). August reflected on the ice cream: “That was the sweetest thing I’ve tasted in months…past august was sooo wrong. Well, not about the beach…”
On the way back to the car we passed three vacant lots. The first would have been a good spot to access the beach and sunset. Future reference. The second was inundated with snails, of which August picked some off and dropped on the ground until I stopped him. The third he stopped at and told Carly to come back to see all the huge green weeds. Also crazy that there are three empty lots right down in prime Herzliya area, in neighborhoods housing EU dignitaries, etc.
On the drive home he listened to “The Bunny’s Big Leap”. August pointed out the almost-full moon. He spent the ride counting street lights that were out. “I got to 40!” I think some may have been ones that he just couldn’t see lit up from his angle, but when I had him point one out that he was seeing it was indeed one that was out.
Back at home he did more math with big numbers. I did some with him, giving him three numbers to add, and starting to work on bigger subtraction with borrowing. We then played chess together, then I went for a run. Carly was trying to get him to watch a documentary, but settled for him watching an episode of Llama Llama, which he hasn’t seen in s long time.
When I got home they were finishing up a bath. He agreed to have his hair cut tomorrow, instead of today. They read some Joey Pigza I think and were playing cribbage when I got out of the shower. I took over Carly’s cribbage hand. Heather had responded with two videos of Eve. She said August’s video was really funny, and that they had arrived in Albania after two flights. I think they said they still had to find a house, but at least they got to wherever they are without having to quarantine. Albania is starting to spike for the first time.
We went in the bedroom, and he found the perfect combo of clothes: the striped blue shorts, and the sea green shirt. On Stories Podcast he listened to “White Doe, Fairy Doe” and “Froggy Loses Her Tail”. We brushed our teeth, then listened to part of a Camoflauge album, Spice Crackers, then switched to the new Mulatu Astatke album To Know Without Knowing. He fell asleep, sitting up as usual, by 11:35.
Stop recording:
Playing in different keys at the same time:
Doing big addition problems:
Snails:
More big addition:


