From the Dept. of Mixed messages

Samson's favorite video right now is Dan Zanes' "All Around the Kitchen." To be honest, Vicki and I really like it as well. For one, it's got good music on it. Updated and kind of rock and rootsy versions of songs like the "Hokey Pokey" and "Polly Wolly Doodle," plus some old classics like "Sidewalks of New York."

We also like it because it's almost the polar opposite of these guys. Something about grown men in coordinated quasi-Star Trek regalia doing the box step just leaves me cold. [Not that Samson doesn't love them too, because he surely does, but it is really nice to have music we can all listen to without gritting our teeth. In the Wiggles' world indeed...]

Of course, Samson's other favorite video right now is a Thomas sing-along that he got from Vicki's dad. This is a bunch of songs about Thomas and his friends. Lots of songs about being dependable and modest and useful and other stiff upper lip virtues. In between songs are stories, most of which concern Thomas or one of the other trains being asked to do something by Sir Topham Hatt.

Apparently, Hatt is the grandee of Sodor and owns everything. You know you're in trouble when Sir T.H. gets "cross." Like the time that Thomas was tasked with bringing a brass band across the island for Mrs. Hatt's birthday party and he lost a tuba player. The errant musician was later found in Sodor's red light district, drunk and penniless.

Ok, that's not true. He actually hitched a ride on a tractor and all was well.

But what's interesting is that Samson moves from watching Dan Zanes and singing along with songs like "Pay Me My Money Down" [he was singing it this weekend when my parents were visiting, and I think they wondered if we were raising their grandson as a red diaper baby] to tales from the Isle of Sodor about making a speedy delivery of eggs so Sir Topham Hatt can have his breakfast.

Mostly, I think Samson just likes trains and singing. And really, who can blame him?

But this gives me something to wonder about when we're watching these things.

And if at some point he asks me why Gordon, Percy, and the others don't organize, I'll know where it's coming from...