They Might Be Giants

Just a few minutes ago, I heard T saying, "Z lives his life in a garbage can." Hmm. What is he talking about? Is this some manner of sibling frustration at getting replaced as the youngest kid in the family?

Perhaps. But probably not. After I asked him about it, he told me it was from Particle Man--all save the Z part:



Person man, person man

Hit on the head with a frying pan

Lives his life in a garbage can

Person man

My kids have been really into They Might Be Giants (brand new album) Flood. The other morning, I was sleeping in a little bit after AJ and MJ had already left, and I awoke to vigorous singing of "Not to put too fine a point on it, Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet, Make a little birdhouse in your soul" and "after chasing Jason off and countless screaming Argonauts." They especially love this one and Istanbul (not Constantinople).

Back in 1990, I started college. Two of my uncles were also there, and they helped me get settled in a bit there. I took American Heritage with one of them who was just fresh of a mission. Anyway, they introduced me to They Might Be Giants and Flood. Listening to it with my kids brings back lots of memories. Living in Helaman Halls, jogging around the track nearby. The album is great fun.

Since having kids, we have really liked listening to They Might Be Giants albums for kids. When Maren was small, No! had just been released and we listened to it a lot. She loved "Don't cross the street in the middle, in the middle, in the middle of the block" and we listened to it over and over. One afternoon, when she was 8 or 9 months old, my sister and I had taken a trip out to the Ikea on Long Island. I guess we pushed our limits with MJ, because towards the end of our trip, she started screaming and wouldn't stop. The only thing that would calm her down is that song, and we listened to it over and over and over. Later that summer, we took her to a concert in Central Park to hear them in concert. It started at a hour much past her bedtime. She started getting fussy during the opening act, but once TMBG started playing, she was happy and engaged and dancing around--as much dancing as a pre-walking baby can do.

We still haven't gotten their new cd Here Come the 123s. But, we did just find that they have just started video podcasting for kids and we have enjoyed watching some videos.