Is it an age thing?

Or is it temperament? "Mellow Man" Karl was in full energy overflow mode today, turning the morning into a variety show of readings, songs and architectural experiments. "Screaming Jay" Henri was more in an unusual mellow mood, enjoying the psychedelic effects of pacifiers. Karl had demanded "not doing things" last night, which meant unleashing his forces of nature at home for a while. Lunch had to be had at Viktualienmarkt though, since there was a lot of shopping to do (dad's supposed to leave on a whirlwind two-city business trip, that might shrink to a one-city or no-city tour courtesy of the Eyjafjallajoekull eruption). Anyway, all four of us went to our regular Saturday lunch hangout, having Maultaschen soup with chicken. Fred was all decked out in new spring fashion gear, so Karl got all jealous and demanded to try out the glam effect of her sun-glasses. You be the judge. For shopping we had to split up. But Karl got rewarded for his patience (what patience? He still gets a present at every market stand and the butcher's lady already remember that he likes his free slice of Gelbwurst scliced thick) with a trip to the book store that has turned into his favorite weekend destination. He always takes his time, never settling on the choice he has announced, when he makes the trip to the bookstore sound like a matter of utmost importance, because a certain book has to be purchased. He loves to browse and read. Today we spent about 40 minutes there, before settling on a classic, "The mole and his little car", which is also a classic childrens' short from 1960s Czechoslovakia. Good taste, Mr. Karl. Definitely a ticket back to the bookstore. Henri in the meantime is starting to get into the whole book thing as well. When not serenading his family and neighbors with full throttle renditions of the legendary screamers and shouters of funk, there seems nothing greater than lulling around in his bassinet sucking on aforementioned pacifier and looking at a wall of books, which must create great psychedelic patterns on the retina of a young man celebrating his one month birthday on Monday.