Sunday Pancake Breakfast Style. . .

The Madras-clad Gila Monster at work on his second pancake late this partly sunny, cool Sunday morning.

The Grand Duchess has been away at a conference on the west coast for the last several days, so the boys headed into town for Sunday breakfast together this morning. The Young Master, who faces sensory and cognitive challenges, sometimes has trouble with loud, crowded public spaces, but he did very well today.

On arrival, he sat right down, placed his napkin in his lap, and made small talk with the owner of the restaurant when she brought us menus and poured coffee. A bit silly at times during the meal, he nevertheless held himself together, made pleasant conversation, and managed to order and eat his breakfast very politely once it was served to us.

Getting a smile, as opposed to a clowning, goofy face, was also something of a challenge, but we managed after a fashion. The old Calvin and Hobbes cartoon strips by Bill Waterson are a current fascination, and The Young Master, for better or worse, is modelling himself on Calvin at the moment. Sometimes that means he does not always make the best choices of course.

In any case, he inhaled not just one but TWO chocolate chip pancakes plus a tall glass of orange juice. It was a nice experience all around for the both of us, so we'll have to do it again before long.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

Bill Waterson's inimitable (and much missed) Calvin and Hobbes.

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Up North Style. . .

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Classic Style

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