(see prior entry) ....When all was ready, it was growing dark on that cool and cloudy summer evening. We turned off the lights in the room and turned on the hood lamp, taking in our creation. Even without the fish, it was quite a serene sight, bubbles, trickling water, brightblue gravel, polyethylene seaweed undulating in the "current."
That night, after the annual (and unexpected, see separate blog) neighborhood fireworks fest....and a hot shower, I read to him from a Hardy Boy's mystery as he lay on the narrow single bed under his Lightening McQueen fleece throw, in the pilled forest green "T-Rex" jammies he had managed to wear for three years running.
He wore his specs, even in bed, as he is prone to do...and took in the aquarium with slightly glazed gaze...even without the fish (yet) I could feel the tranquility in his soul as he tumbled off to Dreamland.
7/15/09 - I had a crushing day at work, 5 appointments - which does not sound like much I know, but usually a busy day for me is 2-3, so...
but, I had promised G we would get the fish that day, and I could not let him down...so I picked him up at his mom's and we trekked straight over to the pet aisle at Wally World. Luckily, Cathy the Wal Mart fish lady was there, ready to offer her always plentiful, and generally excellent ichtyological advice...
G decided on 2 guppies and 2 neon tetra...I was a bit concerned when one of the latter flopped and jumped right out of the net, and right onto Cathy's shock absorbing ergonomic rubber mat for people who tand on their feet for hours per day - she scooped it right back into the big baggie of fish tank water in one deft movement...I was going to say something about picking out another fish...but right then she mentioned the 72 money back if the fish dies guarantee...so I let it go...
We also picked out some "jewel rocks" for the bottom of the tank and a stick on thermometer...and G carried the parcel C-A-R-E-F-U-L-L-Y across the parking lot to the Pontiac...
We got them home, and "floated" them on top of the tank for the requisite 10-15 minutes while G plooped the jewel rocks strategically into the tank and stuck the thermometer in a strategic location (one he could see from his bed - ideal for keeping a 7 year old finger on the pulse of conditoins in fish world) - and I put away laundry...nothing like neatly folded plaid boxers to bring the BP and heart rate down during an exciting moment...haha...
then the big moment had arrived...we put the bag on a towel on the floor of his room and got out the net...he held the edges open, and I scooped the "boys" out and safely introduced them to thier new universe..
We also started a of book to record important data, like dates of new fish and water changes, expenditures, and according to G's plan at least - income, once we get some girl guppies and start selling guppy puppies back to the pet store...always the entrpeneur he is...AND starting to get some nebulous notion of what birds and bees (and fishes) do in the dark, it would seem...
he promptly named 3 of the fish...Brock and Swimmy (for the guppies, after Spencer's fish on iCarly) and Pebbles for one of the Tetras (???) but the 4th remains nameless as of this writing...
he was so cute that night...he kept his glasses on in bed and gazed into the peaceful bubbling world he created while I read to him from the Hardy Boys (Vol. 8 - The Mystery of Cabin Island) ....drifting peacefully off to sleep...
a fish tank will beat a Tylenol 3 or even a Xanax anyday, IMHO...
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