En Rumbo

Sorry for the lull in entries this week. Pepino Suave and familia have been busier n' a one legged man in a pompis-kicking contest. With the break in the weather, our social commitments have mutliplied like the crabbgrass on our front yard.
Tonight is Pepinita's and my second annual Daddy/Daughter dance at La Escuela de Expectaciones Realisticas (sic). We put a shine on our dance dogs last night. Gonna trip the light.
As well, we're doing a road trip this weekend. Packing up Pepina's Asian Express, parking the Pepino Suave Express in the garage, and heading to Brother Casi Italiano's house on the east side for a communion double-header. We'll give you the poop on the rebound.
The people at Pepino Suave's Warehouse of Yippee-Skippee Games, Songs, and Stories wishes you a fine fin de semana. We'll talk soon...

Manejo mucho,

Pepino Chofer.

El Examen

Here are some examples of the results of last week's unit test. All the questions are based on the story El Muchacho Pastor located in the box. Congratulations to Lindisima, Pelota Veloz, and Cerda Rara. These distinguished students allowed me to use their corrected tests for this fair blog. Gracias muchachas.

Con orgullo,

Pepino Profesor

P.S. For the myopic: double click on the image to enlarge.

Dangers of Teaching

Double click on "Dangers of Teaching" above for a shocking report regarding elementary education.It reveals that, inspight of the incredible draw a lucrative elementary teaching position might have, a job in the grammar school classroom may threaten your health. Read and shudder. I did (read and shudder).

Corro riesgo,

Pepino Nervioso

Jabon

Cuke County is owned by a soap heir. That's right. The guy got his money from his pops the soap maker. Well, daddy didn't so much make soap, as he had other people sell the soap that he didn't make. Then they found more folks to sell the soap that he didn't make. And it kept going and going like some kind of out of control pyramid or something until pops was richer than the Pope. Now the son is rich and wants to rule the whole gal dern county as if he were the Pope. Anyway, I see him on t.v. tonight pitching his plan to be Supreme Ruler of the Whole World. In the commercial he is driving a car. It kind of struck me. What is the guy doing driving a car? Isn't that reckless? Surely a guy richer than the dickens doesn't drive a car himself. What's he doing driving a car on T.V? And he's talking, too. Talking and driving as houses whiz by in the background. A rich guy from Pepinoville Heights driving in town? No wonder our insurance rates are biggern' an October pumpkin. Guy should go back to taking care of all that soap money his daddy made by not making any soap, and leave the driving to the hired help. That would provide atleast one more job in Cuke County.

Asustado,

Peps

He Has Risen!

He has risen indeed! Can't say the same for Pepina's houseplants. Here the good people at the Pepino Suave Experience provide you examples of Pepina's household flora, both before Pepinita finding the Easter egg, and after; no resurection as hoped. In fact, some scientists have termed Casa Pepina the botanical equivalent of the Valley of Death.

Feliz Pascua,

Pepino Suaveson

Las Obras de Coco Loco

(Double click to enlarge)

Here we have the next installment of Coco Loco's ungoing saga "La Vida Loca de Bob El Gorila" (Coco Loco, you are the craziest fifth grade coconut we know).
Enjoy.

Marmelada Fresa

Yet again, our international fan base saves the day. Yesterday's entry detailed the mediocracy of the jam selection in Casa Pepina. Within hours Pepino S., the author of these words, received a can of homemade strawberry preserves. The jar was sent from as far away as across the street, Rue Relish. La Criada, our nieghbor and Pepinita's daycare provider (she provides care during the day), read my plea and promptly sent her daughter, Zanahoria, to our stoop with a jar of the sticky condiment. I am forever in their debt. My hat is off to them, as I bare my bald pate to the sun that kisses the dimpled fruit called fresa. Now that's jam.

Buen provecho,

Pepino Satisfecho

Jam

Everything has its standard. Baseball bats have Louisville Slugger. Hockey sticks, Bauer. An orange? Sunkist. Looking for a tire? Start with Firestone.
What is the standard for jams? I don't think we need a Pepino Poll for this one, folks. It is Strawberry. Strawberry is the standard for jams. It begins with the strawberry,then maybe grape, or rasberry, and then you go boutique with the marmelades and fruit salsas.
I'm not the finicky type, but when I look in the fridge, I expect milk, a dozen or so eggs, and strawberry jam. And a glowing light bulb so you can see the milk, eggs, and jam. Not Great Expectations here, fans.
Seems my Dutch wife, dear Pepina, learned from her Home Ec. teacher that grape is the staple flavor of jams. We've got more grape jam than we do, well, staples.
Sorry to go Andy Rooney on you, folks, but my jam and toast was barely mediocre today. I shoulder a burden. I'll tough it out.

Sin una buena marmelada,

Pepinito Hambriento

PS Today, Pepina did make an Apple Crisp that would knock your socks off and have them do laps around the yard. Good stuff.

Student Work

(Double click for a better look-see)

This is Coco Loco's first installment of the continuing saga of Bob el Gorila. Bob el Gorila is the famed, if controversial, CEO of Pepino Suave's Institute of Games, Songs, and Stories.
Coco Loco, author and illustrator, is one of the many creative students at Blessed Breading. He was first inspired by Bob el Gorila way back in second grade. Coco Loco's cartoon depiction of Bob's travels around the world will be an ongoing feature of the award-winning Pepino Suave Blog. Eat your heart out Gary Trudeau.

Para servirle,

Peps

News Flash

The Pepinoville City Council passed a resolution this afternoon to legalize the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
On another note, a study by the Pepinoville Public Health Department has discovered that 100% of Pepinoville City Council members have been diagnosed with glaucoma.

Su periodista,
P.S.

Vacaciones

As we enjoy our spring break in partly-cloudy Cuke County, the good folks at Pepino Suave Yippee-Skippe Games, Songs, and Stories wish you were here. Why, just this afternoon we spent time in the Pepinoville Public Library. Pepina searched for the latest tome of suffering and trials, Pepinita gazed at the computer screen, and I looked at back issues of Cuke's Life. Libraries are exceptionally quiet during spring break. Even the staff is on vacation. I'd never seen today's librarians before. Substitute librarians. Contract librarians. Freelancers.
I found a neat book about a dog killed with a pitch fork. I wonder if they'll make a movie about it. Pepina found one that pits a sister against a sister in a struggle against DEATH. Hey, family reading...
Tomorrow is the triple header: lunch with Aunt Nina, swimming at the YMCA, and the final Blessed Breading Fish Fry of the 2006 Lenten Season. Get 'em while they're hot!
Vacation's all I ever wanted...

Vago de los vagos,
Pepino S. y familia

Pescado Frito

Friday's fish fry at Blessed Breading Parish was a hoot and a half. The Pepino Posse is growing, as Inginiera joined the clan Pepino, Pastores Lama and Obeja (and daughter Lana), Contadora (her tan fading as tax deadline approaches), and her husband/ my euchre partner, Calificador.
I think Ingeniera ordered baked and then went up for seconds of fried, so we don't have a finger on her political persuasion. We know she is gainfully employed, attends church services regulary, and drives sensibly, so she surely isn't one of them. Then again, who knows; a wealthy landlord once accused Pepino Suave of being one of those. Ironic, if you follow me. I've been accused of being one of them and one of those, depending on what part of the state I was at the time. Go figger.
Anyway, Inginiera's politics isn't the topic here, fish is (are?). The Catholic Icelandic Cod was some of the best I've ever sampled. Go Lent.
See you next week by the dessert table...

Porque poco cocos como, poco cocos compro,
Compa' Pepinito

Vacaciones

The Pepino Suave Experience is shutting down for a week. Pepinoville Public Schools are closed for spring break. I'm taking my rubber chicken and zombie glasses and staying home.
"What does Pepino Suave do for leisure?" millions ask. Well, this being the first day of vacation and all, I'm am still in my Sponge Bob pajamas. Although presently I am writing these lofty thoughts, Pepinita and I are going to spend a good part of the morning watching PBS kids. (Mr. Rogers inspires me). We will spend the remainder of the week avoiding my public, watching Pepinita avoid the ball during her soccer league games, and watching dear Ingrid avoid taking us too seriously.


Gozando de la vida,

Pepino Perizoso