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Long Overdue Brunch

That mantis chowed down on that grasshopper. When we left for the afternoon it was devouring the head and when we got back a few hours later there was just half a grasshopper and a satisfied mantis.


I was hoping to ideally take it easy this morning because we were gonna spend the afternoon at a friend's house and the boys were not only not going to take a nap, they were gonna go crazy playing with my friend's corgi.

We started out okay. The boys decided they wanted to do playdough, which seemed like the perfect low-impact activity before an exciting Sunday afternoon. I wish they would humor me a little with the picture-taking, though. They love purposefully making sour faces when the camera comes out.


The only thing Osamu can make with playdough is a ball, so he lost interest and told mama he wanted to go to the park. I interjected because I also wanted to go to the park and get some steps in but Osamu made himself very clear. "I want to go with mama."

Kenzo worked quietly on his slightly more advanced playdough creations; airplanes and animals. He loves the quiet when everyone is gone. I sipped my coffee and watched him, wondering how in the heck I was gonna get some morning steps in.

Eri texted me that they were at Kimura-san's house. I knew it. They're the nice older couple that live across from 3-Chome Park and they never miss a chance to invite us in when we're there. Osamu loves all the cool stuff they have in their house. We've been there for dinner parties a few times now and it is always a grand time.


Eventually Kenzo wrapped up his artwork, washed his hands, and announced he was ready to head outside. I said we better bring our bug catching net and box because that mantis we got from Ryuma-kun hasn't eaten for three days and he's gonna die. Kenzo was immediately revitalized and motivated by this mission.

We met up with mama and Osamu, and of course Kimura-san, at 3-Chome Park, the boys ran amok for a bit, and we failed at catching the few dragonflies that were hovering around. It's that time of year when the red dragonflies are about, and I feel sorta bad catching them for mantis food because they seem more majestic and culturally significant than your regular run of the mill dragonflies.

We may have failed in the park, but on the way home papa caught a grasshopper and a red dragonfly and successfully got them into the mantis box, which Kenzo was carrying the whole time.


When we got home that mantis started on his long overdue brunch. As of this publication the dragonfly is still waiting for whatever fate has in store. The boys and I are wondering if the mantis will eat him too. I think he will. We saw that mantis at Eito-kun's house eat a big juicy dragonfly a couple of weeks ago so unless there's a thing with red dragonflies our mantis should be good and full tomorrow. As a work from home papa my job is apparently to catch more bugs for the mantis on weekdays.

The rest of the day was at Uncle Adam's house. He and his wife have a corgi and the boys went crazy playing with him. Eri and I were treated to some top notch hospitality; barbecued ribs, seafood salad...


...pumpkin pie.


I haven't had pumpkin pie in so long. It tasted like fall time. It also made me start thinking ahead to making another batch of eggnog for the holidays. I'm thinking of doing an "early batch" and a "late batch" this year. Last Christmas the one batch I made came and went in a flash and I really coulda gone for some more. Osamu too. Just us two. Everyone else has zero interest in it. 

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