MARK MY WORD: 'GREASE' IS THE WORD AND THE MUSIC AT OUR HOUSE

"Grease" is the word. At least, in our home.

Our daughters love the 1970s musical. They've watched the video over and over, to the point that I think the movie is etched permanently on our three television screens.

These days, Becca and Bailey love to crank up the volume on the living room stereo and dance to the CD soundtrack.

Becca knows the words and sings them loudly. She has to sing loudly to be heard over the pulsating beat from the stereo speakers.

Fortunately for her, she has never lacked lung power.

The musical is set in a 1950s high school, but there's no time warp as far as our 7-year-old and 3-year-old are concerned.

Maybe it's the leather jackets and poodle skirts that interest them. Certainly, the music gets their attention.

Joni and I like the music too. But you can only take so much of a good thing before you start looking for another tune, any tune.

Becca and Bailey frequently turn the living room into a dance hall as they twirl around the room with two naked, three-foot tall Barbie dolls.

The dolls are a little stiff when it comes to dancing. But Becca and Bailey don't seem to mind. At least, they don't step on anybody's toes. And there's no need to worry about small talk.

When they get tired of dancing with the dolls, they look to dad.

As the man of the house, I'm regularly called upon as a dance partner.

My job is to swing the girls around the room until I'm nearly dizzy. This thoroughly delights them and leaves me gasping for breath.

I've suggested they should dance with their mother, but to no avail.

Personally, I don't think this is a dad thing. It's a "twirl-me-around-the-room" thing.

Sometimes, the dance floor gets pretty cluttered, what with all the Barbie dolls and dress-up clothes that congregate on the carpet.

At times, the music has to wait until we've tidied up.

Joni and I are always amazed at how our daughters can spin around the room so effortlessly without once tripping over the microphone cord and other assorted items in their path.

Of course, this same skill doesn't apply to stepping over the sewing machine electrical cord in the dining room. They're certain to trip over it, ignoring our warnings to take an alternate route through the house.

Perhaps all that dancing just wears them out.

At any rate, we're glad they appreciate music.

Pigs appreciate music too, we're told.

A circuit judge has determined that pigs at the Rosano farm in Stuart, Fla., can keep listening to their favorite radio station.

The pigs' owner says music helps soothe and fatten the animals.

I guess it depends on the music. I have yet to see any signs that our daughters are gaining weight from listening to "Grease."

Of course, Becca, doesn't eat much anyway, whatever the music.

For now, Becca and Bailey couldn't be happier dancing the night away, at least until bedtime.

~Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.