My son is a nerd.

First, Brian wanted to wear a necktie, like Daddy did yesterday at church. After James put one of the cruddier ties on him, they decided that Brian really needed a dress shirt to look right.

Then, Brian wanted to play with his globe. Now bear in mind, he's only had it for a week, and he's only three. But without help, he can already show you LOTS of places on it, including some of the trivia that Daddy has taught him for each. If you point, he can say it; if you say it, he can find it:

Tennessee: "Brian lives in Maryville, Tennessee."

Virginia: "Where Bumpa and Gramma Scheidt live. And Alex" (points to northeast end of Virginia).

Michigan: "Where Bumpa and Grandma Ganzevoort live."

Canada: "Close to Tennessee." Really?

Mexico: "Where they make tacos. Mommy, can we have tacos?"

Brazil: "They have fish that eat cows when they step in the river."

Britain: "The island where Thomas is from. And Percy."

France: "By Britain."

Spain: "The pink one."

Italy: "It looks like a boot."

Algeria: "Big and and purple."

India: "It sticks into the ocean."

Russia: "Big and orange and way up there."

Mongolia: Apparently a desolate and fact-less land.

China: "Where Chinese food comes from."

Japan: "Where Miss Samantha lives."

Fiji: "The little orange dot."

Antarctica: A very hard-to-pronounce continent. But, "Penguins!"

Australia: "G'day, mate! Dingo ate my baby!" Of course with Brian this usually comes out, "Hello, Nate! Dig my baby?"