I watched BBC documentary on cavemen with the kids last weekend, and I keep thinking about their theory about why the Neandarthals died out. It's because they were specialists. They were very well adapted to a specific environment (think Europe during the ice age), and when it started to change, they couldn't hack it. So, before they could take off their winter coats, they were extinct. Meanwhile, our ancestors, who had all sorts of struggling and brainstorming to do in order to survive, became very good at adapting quickly, so could roll with the changes. It was the fact that they were generalists, not specialists, that enabled them to continue as a species.

My job title at the museum is Program Specialist. I want it changed to Program Generalist.

All kidding aside though, it is very easy to see how this theory can be applied to the life of an individual. If a person is only good at doing one thing, it's hard to find alternate employment. Problems could ensue. It's nice to be able to do a broad range of things regardless of their useful applications. We should all strive to gain extra skills. If only we had the time...

Speaking of time, the kids will all be grown up before we know it, so here's what's new:

Lexy is afraid of Nosferatu.

The Dickens has started demanding that people kiss her feet.

Willow smiles all of the time and likes chewing on little, toy musical instruments.

Nate... well, I'm not even going to get into what he did with the plastic vampire fangs.

Cds I listened to while realizing that I need more transferable skills: V/A "Must be Musique 1", V/A "MM" - World Serpent compilation, V/A "The Pot Machine Turns You On" - Ptolemaic Terrascope 29 compilation, Paul Roland with the Windham Hill Wind & String Ensemble "Happy Families", and V/A "What is Eternal"