Hello there. I hope that everyone's week is going well.

I am coming off of the thrill of watching two consecutive days of "American Idol." Next week there will be three days in-a-row of episodes. I am really looking forward to watching Monday's episode where they show only the good auditions. Then after that, weeding occurs. It didn't seem that there were that many impressive singers in the Hawaii auditions. We'll have to see how they do in the later rounds.

In other entertainment events in my life, last night my wife and I watched a movie on TNT. It was called "... of Echo." (I forgot the title.) It starred Kevin Bacon. It was a movie about a man and his son who saw a ghost in their house, and the ghost wouldn't leave them alone until the dad solved her murder. The movie was apparently part of the "I see dead people..." boom around the time "The Sixth Sense" came out. I would say that the movie is worth watching, but it isn't necessary to go out of one's way to watch it. So how's that for a movie review? I don't even remember the title of the movie. I'll have to go to rogerebert.com and look up "Kevin Bacon movies." (Just type in "Echo," you'll find it.)
//Post-script edit: I looked it up. The title of the movie is: "Stir of Echoes."//

Today the schools where I work are starting two hours late. Apparently last night was the coldest night in several years. When I went outside this morning, the thermometer said -20F (-29C.) It was cold, but I thought that yesterday was actually colder. Regardless... it is cold. Honestly, I don't really feel that it is cold enough to call off school, but of course I will take a shortened work-day.

Don't worry about us though. Kazuko, Kenny, and I are keeping warm. It was hard to leave home today though. Usually when I leave for work, Kenny is sleeping. Since I left two hours later today, I had to go during his "happy time."

Kenny, by the way, has been soing some neat things recently. He is gurgling and cooing. He smiles a lot, and copies facial expressions too. It is really fun to watch him do new stuff.

Okay friends, that's all for today. Stay warm (unless you live in much of the the Southern Hemisphere, or in a tropical area, where that well-wish wouldn't apply.)