Brief but lovely meeting

It has been all I could do today not to come giggling over to you, to tell you this super-cool news. For the last 5 hours I've had to, like, care for the kids and feed them and talk to them and stuff... So annoying! Because guess what? Today I got to meet someone I really like and admire from The Internet. And she is just as sweet and fantastic in person as she is on-screen, and I just had to share.

Hi, Mir, you're pretty! Sorry I was such a schoolgirl. (I really was, y'all. Starstruck happens. I couldn't even logically tell her my name. God, I am so embarrassed. If I ever get to go to BlogHer I will clearly need drinks. Which is good, I've heard they have them there.)

Blogging is funny. One minute you're feeling all comfortable, all "part of this great community," and the next minute you're you again, the shy girl. Hee. But I love it. I was proud to be there, happy to understand this medium (somewhat) and how it works, nodding in agreement when they (Mir and also-famous Kristen) explained why they do it. When my husband asked me on the way home, why *I* do it, I had several answers for him. It started as a substitute for the paper journals I'd been writing my whole life. I have since found it's a great place to park the memories we're making, so that when these kiddos grow up, I won't forget. And, it's allowed me to meet fascinating people and expand my circle a bit. He knew I was excited because I went on and on. I mean, it must have been fun if I'm blogging about it on a weekend! When I got home, I really wanted to hop online just to BE with you guys. If that isn't silly.

Anyway, go and buy their book. I already read about 1/3 of it since we got home today (while I was "caring" for the kids, ahem). It's like a handy bookmark of the best posts from the best momblogs. Blogs-to-books: will that continue? Will the "craze" fizzle eventually? Will all of the rockstar bloggers get published? Who knows. It will be fun to see where this whole things takes us in the next several years.

Identity freaking crisis

*SIGH* This day and age, I swear. I now have so many multiple personalities (not to mention logins and passwords) that I can barely keep up with myself, and I'm supposed to be keeping up with two kids and a husband, too? WTH, Web 2.0?

1. In February 2005, I didn't want to publish my kids' names or my last name on this blog because I didn't want all the wackos of the world to be able to find our house/school/whatever wackos want to find. I was also aware of the employer/potential employer's ability to Google. So it's anonymous.
2. Except when I go and link to Vimeo where I've signed up using my real name, DUH.
3. And never mind that half my regular readership is related to me. (Hi Mom! Hi Dad! Hi husband, sister, cousins!)
4. The other half of you have likely emailed me at some point, and I wasn't smart enough to create an anonymous email to accompany the blog; just used my regular ol' junky yahoo address. So now you guys know my real name, too. Which is fine, I don't care about that because I like you, I really like you. But it seems dumb, now, to have an anon blog and a revealed email.
5. I love Facebook and have become friends with a few of you guys and a LOT of old high school and college buddies. I definitely don't think I want all of them to be reading my blog so I don't publish its URL over there.
   
6. I finally succumbed to the everloving Twitter tease, and set up my account... possibly without thinking, using my real and actual name. So I can't very well publish my Twitter feed here, can I? Haha, oh, isn't this fun?
   
7. AND NOW my office has created Facebook and Twitter accounts. I want to become a fan of and follow them; however, my manager has said explicitly that we should have TWO identities for these things, one personal and one professional. Because he doesn't want our clients, who may also follow us, seeing "our naked toga party pics." (It's funny because we work in higher ed.) And I get it, and I don't want my clients on my real Facebook page, either, necessarily -- perhaps they don't need to know how often I'm playing TextTwirl?-- but ArrRRGHEHEH. Two Facebook accounts? Two Twitter accounts? Annoying.
   
8. Oh, damn, I just remembered Flickr, too. Which I think I don't want to use, personally, anymore (don't like the way it functions) but the office may start using it for clients' photo archives, so again, I'll need to sign up with my Professional identity. Which is.. who, again?

Darling Husband, I just want you to know that if and when we get our Wii, I may not be up to creating YET ANOTHER Mii (me).

(....Who?)

Badly lit, but still pretty darn cute

Happy Baby Jumperoo! from Lee on Vimeo.


Also: this is one of the most beautifully written things I've read on the Internet lately, from Sundry:

...all I wish for is that time would slow down, that I could enjoy your babyhood for as long as I want, instead of the cruel truth of days slipping by faster and faster, every moment taking you just a bit away from me. The entire act of parenthood is a path of loss, Dylan, where the whole point is for you to grow up and away, and we will know we did at least a few things right when you carve out your own life completely separate from ours. I know how this time is such a sweet shutter-flash, and my heart, my little one, it will be over so soon. I am trying to hold on to it all, even as it constantly changes.

Red Beans and Rice

We eat Red Beans and Rice (RBR, as it appears on my weekly Post-It Note menu) quite often. Usually it comes from this box, which I will say unashamedly is delicious. I can claim to know, since my Mom is pure, 100% Louisianan. Sunday, I decided to make real Red Beans. I don't know... I guess I had extra time on my hands. ;)

This recipe is mostly my Mom's, with 1 or 2 ingredients from the back of the bag of Red Beans. My husband said it was delicious.

1 pound bag dry red beans (pick out the bad ones while they're dry)
6-8 cups water
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
3/4 TBSP salt
1 TBSP Creole seasoning (I use Tony Chachere's)
1 pound smoked sausage*, sliced, or a ham bone, or just ham

*you could use spicy sausage or andouille, but I'd omit the Cayenne pepper in that case.

If you don't remember to soak the beans overnight, then place them in a big pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Let them boil 2-3 minutes, turn the heat off and remove them from the burner. Let them sit, covered, for an hour or so. Drain.

Place soaked beans in crock pot and add 4-6 cups (new) water. Add other ingredients and stir. Cook on low 10-12 hours or on high at least 6 hours. (Or, bring to boil and simmer on the stove for 2 - 2.5 hours.) Add sausage or other meat whenever you like. An hour or so before cooking time is finished, take about 1 cup of beans out, and puree in the food processor. Add them back in. This is to make the mixture creamier.

(I added my sausage before the last 2 hours but here's a note: bring it to room temperature first. Otherwise you will be worried that you've just cooled the temperature of the beans so much that they will never fully cook. Ack! As it turns out they were the perfect consistency, right on time!)

Serve over white rice, obvs.

Sure hope my friends will post their easy weeknight recipes today, too! Happy Tuesday!

Puttering around the house

We had lingering effects of Tropical Storm Fay over the weekend, meaning gusty wind and overcast skies, and a little pittance of rain in the north suburbs. Still, it felt kind-of like fall, and made me wish it really WAS fall, with cool temperatures and a reason to crock-pot (v.)! I did, even without reason. I made red beans and rice and tomorrow I might even share the recipe I used, in the spirit of Trader Tuesday.

I just went outside this morning, and something about the way the trees, grasses, and my garage smelled made me want Loaded Potato Soup. Yum.

Our first Sunday School experience went... okay. AJ shed some nervous tears when I left him in his classroom, which ticked me off because I wanted to teach HIS CLASS and they didn't put me there. The whole reason I was doing this! But in the end, he said he had fun, and the class of Kindergarteners I'm teaching seems really sweet, too. I think it's probably going to be a good experience for both of us. (No update on my "New Best Friend," but she did a great job with the lesson plan so I like her that much more. Hee. Looking forward to working with her.)

Our weekend, looking back now, was packed! We attended YET ANOTHER friend's birthday party. I got an inferiority complex inside their enormous brand-new house. DH went to his annual Fantasy Football Draft. I went to dinner and a movie with Colleen. Together, we watched some of the last remaining Olympics (Group Rhythmic Gymnastics? Interesting! And Weird!), played as much Ben 10 (pretend) as we parents could stand, and watched KT baby jump in the Jumperoo. I swear I'm taking pictures tonight. Pinky swear. Somehow all of this seemed relaxing.

In the category of Homecaring, DH dusted and re-org'd AJ room, I did a load of towels, and we managed not to break the bank JUST yet (although my grocery trip tonight could get us close) -- this damn 2 kids in daycare gig is a lot pricier than I'd imagined. In fact, I didn't really imagine it at all -- just didn't THINK that adding another kid, without adding more salary, was going to feel quite so pinchy. Oh well. I've decided I'm asking for new bath towels for Christmas. :) Let someone else take care of my household expenses.

Hope your weekend was equally boring and nice.

Six Month Love Letter

Dear KT,

Half a year goes by in a flash and I find myself a few days... okay, a whole week... late with getting this written out. It seems that "late" is a continual state of being with two kids. Not "Very Late," because that would make me feel bad about myself, but just a few minutes past on-time. It's okay. It's expected, really. You manage to find some very sweet ways to fill up the minutes in our days.

I don't know, yet, how tall you are or your official weight, but you're growing. :) You have discovered your feet and like to kick them up over your head when you're lying down. But! You don't have to lie down all the time anymore -- you can sit up, big girl! It makes bathtime and getting dressed a WHOLE lot easier, and you love being upright on a blanket, surrounded by toys. Mostly you go for the cloth things to chew on -- cloth books, your burp cloth, or your dress; I'd have to say your favorite toy is your green pacifier, because your turn it over and over in your hands and chew on it actively. But you just haven't been exposed yet to all the toys that are coming to you -- just wait until you meet the ball popper and the "gumball" machine! We scored a JumpeRoo from some kind friends, and you seem to really like that, too, although you're only just getting acquainted with it.

Rolling is your current method of transportation, when given some time and space, but we can see you trying to pull those little legs up behind you. The days when we can set you down and come back to the same spot 3 minutes later are definitely numbered.

You love the bath! This is really fun for Daddy and me, because *whisper* your brother AJ has never liked getting wet! Never, not since he was tiny like you! So we laugh and laugh to see you, watching yourself in the mirror, getting water ALL OVER THE MIRROR, and making a big ol' mess. It's awesome. In fact, I can't wait to take you to a birthday party this weekend at a friend's pool! I think you're going to enjoy it.

One other thing we laugh at you about: Spitting. You will make bubbles at us all day -- it's like your own little language. Baaaab-bbbbaabbb-bhhhhhtth-th-thtth-thh. We call you Spitty-Spitty when you do that. Somehow I don't remember AJ doing the same, but then again I don't remember a lot about his babyhood anymore. (That is why Mama keeps the blog!)

You still adore Big Brother, and the last few days, when you are downstairs, and you see him at the top of the stairs, you scream with delight, "Aaaahh!" and giggle excitedly! Like he is the funniest thing you've ever seen! I know it makes him feel good to be considered such a comedian, and it makes Mama smile to think that deep down, instinctively, you love him so much. That HE is the friend who makes you happiest.

We certainly love you, Baby. You add infinite sunshine to our days (and you're adding back a little more sleep to my nights, now that you're sleeping 7:30 pm to 6:00 am! Keep that up. Just had to document that one last detail.) I'm going to tickle you right on your delicious squishy thigh when I see you next.

XOXO,
Mommy

Sunday School

Last night was the opening meeting for catechists for the 2008-09 schoolyear, and I got to attend! Because I am a catechist! Or, a catechist's assistant anyway. I am (pretending/volunteering to be) a teacher of Kindergarteners, can you believe it? I'm a tad bit excited about this and only wish I had more hours in the week to devote to planning each Sunday lesson, because man, there are some fun things we could do. Anyway, some things last night that made me smile:

• They referred to our being there as a calling. And I think it is. Obviously, this is a more difficult volunteer job than, say, stuffing envelopes for the front office, so to do it requires a hearty level of commitment (although I don't mean to belittle those who volunteer to do the other stuff). The idea came to me out of the blue. A whisper, almost, after I heard from a friend that I should get AJ registered. "You should sign up to be a teacher," I thought. I have never in a million years considered doing this before. But I felt very sure about doing it, from the minute the thought surfaced. I'm excited by that, as I don't feel I've been particularly "called" to anything -- certainly not a ministry -- in a long, long while. Well, except married life and parenting, of course.
• This is going to force me to be more aware of others, and of my faith, and I think I desperately need that. I am really hopeful that this will give my soul a boost. Give and ye shall receive, ya know?
  
• One of the first Kindergarten lessons is "God made the plants and animals," and of course I thought of "If I Were a Butterfly." I think I even remember all the lyrics.
• The other song I thought of was "Zaccheus was a Wee Little Man," and lo and behold, there is a chapter on Zaccheus, too. SCORE. (Sunday School is the same now as it has ever been, I guess.)
• The woman I'm teaching with seems very nice, has 3 little kids, one in AJ's 4-yr-old class, and we are going to be new best friends I am just sure ofitawesomeawesomelet'sgetlattes! Okay, not really, I mean, I don't KNOW if we'll hit it off, but I am kinda hoping for a new girlfriend out of the deal (and get a leeettle carried away about it). I'll try not to be too lovey toward her, right here at first. Hee. She seems very sweet.
• There was a funny lady at my table who's taught Kindergarten CCD for 5 years. She's originally from Long Island and says she begins every Sunday by making all the kids come "Give me mah Sugah." Apparently the kids ADORE it. ;) She was one of those people, though, whose appearance -- big earrings, bright clothes, etc -- would lead you to believe she's outwardly focused, but in reality, she is very much on a spiritual journey. She lost her 23-year-old daughter to a car accident 10 years ago, and shared a lot about her walk with God since then. Inspiring. I LOVE when people surprise me like that.
• I thought of my Mom, who taught Kindergarten at one time, and my Aunt L who taught school for 20-something years, and Maryb and my cousin Dominique, who've taught CCD/PSR/Sunday School, too... now it's my turn.
• Okay, don't tell anyone, but I'm ALSO secretly hoping that I'll be so good at this (heh) that a teaching position will open up at the school, and they'll totally ask me to apply. School hours, dude. School. Vacations.
• It's very cool to be doing this in the Internet age, because: Resources! Tips! Communities! Very helpful for this first-timer.
  

Pray for me!

Another rant-like entry

I am tired of playing "Ben 10" with AJ. I love the show, it's very creative, but... I am ashamed to say this: I DREAD when he says, "Let's play 'Ben 10!'" with all that enthusiasm. I don't have any IDEAS for Ben and Gwen and the DNAliens, I'm sorry.

I used to think of myself as imaginative. Or at least able to pretend! I was an ACTOR for a few years in high school, even. I played "improv games!" But having a child has proven that I am NOT, in fact, an idea warehouse. All of AJ's and my pretending scenes start like this: "So, [Michaelangelo or Ben or Hulk or whomever], what are we going to DO today?"

GAH. I feel like I need to work on this (maybe revisit some of the improv games?) but I just don't wanna. Whine. I love that HE has the desire to pretend, and want to foster that. And I know I'll regret it someday when he grunts at me and shuts the door to his room, turns the music up louder. I will. I'll miss it.

But I'm also tired of Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles in the tub! I have no imagination for these, either, except "Let's practice our ninja moves." *insert 4-yr-old king-fu sound effects here* Last night I finally thought of one thing: DIVE BOMBING. Meaning Mommy throws the Power Rangers into the water, splashing AJ. Good fun. Satisfying for me, too, tossing those guys into the water with a flourish.

We need a neighbor kid who likes these same characters to move in, stat. I will bake cookies. Come over to play.

Until then, CAN WE PLEASE PLAY A BOARD GAME OR DO A PUZZLE??

Jewelery giveaway

Before Mother's Day this year I was poking around greedily online at lots of "mommy" jewelery -- the kind where you have your kids' names engraved on it, yaknow? I couldn't quite find the perfect thing.

But today, I did find the perfect thing! Because it's Free! Musings of a Housewife is hosting a giveaway with the gorgeous and talented folks at Suede at Heart. All I can say is WOW.

I WANT!

You would look totally hot in that necklace. Go! Enter! (Thanks for the tip, Nicole!)

Today: Levity and frivolity

I think it was at Mandy's that the question "Who's in your top five?" was asked several months ago. (I can't find it in her archives, but trust me, there was a conversation.) I had a hard time with it because I'm so (OLD and therefore) behind in the mainest of mainstream pop culture, I guess... everyone was saying "David Cook" was on their top five. Y'all, he's so CURRENT! So NOW! So YOUNG! I'm pretty sure he doesn't fit my definition of hawt, but you go ahead, enjoy.

Anyway, I have been stewing about this question since then, feeling that I NEED to have an updated list! This is patently ridiculous, but who can explain the wanderings of the mind or the cultural impact of a TV show like Friends? Seems like I remember in college, my list included Hugh Grant and Tom Cruise, so.... you can see why I need to re-configure.

I know who's on my husband's List, of course: Angelina Jolie, Jessica Biel, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Alba, and Liz Phair -- all very worthy participants and he has my heartfelt blessing. It's only fair that my own top five are a Known Entity as well. So without further adieu: Hottiehottiehotties.

(Oh wait, more adieu, actually: When I told my dear, innocent friend Katherine about this mental conundrum, she said, "Oh, hee (gasp), I wouldn't really want to DO THAT with them, you know... just maybe have dinner." HA! SHE TOOK IT LITERALLY! Isn't that cute? So anyway, just for grins, let me say that I really don't want a pass to "DO THAT" with these people. A nice (steamy) kiss would be enough for me, really. And maybe dinner, just to make it honest.)

Number One: KEVIN BACON

Okay, so he isn't really current or now. He should have been on my list in college, actually, but I don't know... he's kinda a sidelines player in the Hot industry... I was embarrassed to admit I like-liked him. However, I'm all grown up now and couldn't care less -- he is IT. You had me at "Footloose." (this whole exercise is really embarrassing me now, 5 paragrahps in! forgive me)

Number Two: HARRY CONNICK JR

He's made some poor hair choices in the past, but he can sing to me anytime. It was good for me that they were showing his Lincoln MKZ commercial on TV a few months ago. Who ordered the crawfish?

Number Three: MATTHEW FOX

Mostly when he's broody, not so much with the goofy smile. Aaaaand now I'll have to endure endless teasing when watching the next season of "Lost" with DH. (I actually think he resembles DH a little bit. Def my type: brown hair, tall, slender face...)


Number Four: MIKE ROWE

Alright, stop laughing. It's his WIT and CHARM, people. Well, AND he's not too bad looking, even covered in sh*t! He was a classical musician, so he gets bonus points for that, and I just love when he gives that little sideways glance at the camera when he's talking to one of his Dirty Jobs subjects. That look says, "Can you believe this yahoo just said that out loud?" And yet, he manages to be kind to the yahoo and make him/her feel important? LOVE.

Number Five: ...

My husband should be gratified to know that after MONTHS of wondering about this, searching celebrity photos online, writing down names on a blog-ideas post-it, like this: Aidan Quinn? Johnny Depp? ....I SIMPLY CANNOT think of a 5th for my Top Five. So there's less chance I'll be unfaithful than for many husbands in America, I guess. Lucky DH! Hee hee. I never could tell my girlfriends in elementary school who I "liked" without getting giggly and embarrassed. That's what this feels like.

Error

Yesterday afternoon I made an error at work, and it really got me going in circles in my brain, about the various levels of mediocrity in all aspects of my life. I was fretting over everything, giving myself, if not "FAIL" in all categories, then at least C MINUS:

• Work is completed to the best of my ability but not with a full-on, study and achieve, become a leader, professional success, real go-getter mentality. C-
• Stupid additional freelance business I keep talking about isn't happening. Even the gig I interviewed for hasn't come through. they probably didn't like me. I had no business cards, no good set rates, no answers to their (stupid) questions - FAIL
• Kids - I feel like I'm in a fog with them half the time; I do okay but there's lots of TV, not enough educational fun, my 4-year-old's been to the library with me exactly once, when he was 2 - C-
• I often go to bed without washing my face and I'm 34 now and it's starting to show with uneven complexion and crap - FAIL
• I make great dinners... out of a box or a bag. My best friends are Lipton/Knorr and Kraft - C-
• Can't keep the house clean to save my life.
• Don't have the right clothes, right professional briefcase, right shoes
• Church, ohhhhh church. The tending of my childrens' souls... FAIL...

It went on like this in my head for a full hour. I turned off the radio on my commute so I could fully hear these mean voices in my head, telling me how craptastic my effort -- not my life, mind you, I know I have a good life -- but my level of effort has become. It was harsh.

When I got home I let it all out and shed 3 or 4 tears into DH's collar. He is so good to have around -- he's not your typical man that shuns emotions like sadness. He understands. I'm lucky, there. I felt better after getting it out, talking it through, and I feel better this morning.

Updatery

Weekend
Well, the weekend weather was beautiful here -- in the mid '80s or less, with a breeze! How did we get so lucky, in August? That's kind-of unheard of in Georgia. But there it was, so we took advantage of it. Saturday, we ate lunch outside, not at a posh sidewalk cafe... not even on a picnic blanket on the grass... we went to SONIC, baby. :) Nothing better than Coney Dogs (why do they call them Coney dogs?) and Cherry Limeade on red metal tables.

Sunday we upped the bar and went to the park for our fresh air. AJ climbed enthusiastically on the playground equipment (even went down the BIG CURVY slide), and then we all got schooled by the greedy, mean ducks. We only had 3 bread ends to give them so they charged at us intimidatingly to show how hungry they were. Yikes. ...What else? Oh, we played outside in our very own yard, too! Hide-n-seek, basketball, football with daddy, and KT baby is big enough for our swing! I will have to get some photos because I LOVE a baby in a swing, don't you?

Memories
Today I'm working in my dining room instead of the usual kitchen. I'm enjoying the scent of, again, nothing chic like a candle by Illuminations or a bowl of exotic potpourri, but a Febreeze plug-in "Noticeable." ha! It is the same scent that I bought just after KT was born, though. Her pack-n-play was positioned right in front of the outlet where it was plugged, so the scent is strongly associated with her newborn infanthood. Which I can't believe is A MEMORY already. She'll be 6 months old Friday. She has tried squash, sweet potatoes, pears, carrots, peas, and green beans. I'm saving bananas for the last, amazing dish. I can't wait to see her reaction to them. (AJ about went out of his mind whenever I'd serve him bananas.) She is almost able to sit up on her own.

Diet update
I'm down 7 pounds, somehow! Woo hoo! My joints have been aching lately, though, so it's yoga and stretching today, as much as I can manage. And I made some taco dip (forgot the guacamole layer, duh) but I guess I'll only eat a tablespoon or two. That is so hard.

Entertainment
Did everyone watch the Olympics all weekend? I got teary, no surprise, during the opening ceremonies. AJ did not get it. He wanted to "go see" the fireworks in person, and remained otherwise uninterested. Of course, gymnastics last night: That one Chinese girl looked about five years old!! Crazy. Poor American team took a beating on the uneven bars, didn't they? I was uncomfortable when the camera guy hovered over their little team cheer-up session after the competition was over for the night. I admired them for not smacking him and telling him to STEP BACK. It was a private team moment, sheesh! BUT NO, all of AMERICA needs to hear your pep-talk, little girls. So we can sit in our armchairs back at home and go, "DAMN!" when you miss a tiny step. (Husband and I chastised ourselves for that.)

Just for Sis: A couple of lists

Reasons why I'm bummed that Jilly Beans is moving to Denmark on Thursday:

1. No more spur-of-the-moment counting backwards three hours to figure out what time it is at her house. Now I will have to count forward 6.
2. We liked Seattle! Now we will have no claim to it whatsoever. We can't drop it casually into conversation to make ourselves sound all West Coast hip and in the know. Poor us.
3. On a serious note, she and HB may not get to come home for holidays and vacations as much.
4. On a silly note, I won't get to keep any more random pairs of her socks that get left in my laundry basket.
5. I don't speak Danish (I just eat them. Ba-dum-chhhhh).
6. 
   

Reasons why it's GREAT that Jilly Beans is moving to Denmark on Thursday:

1. Living abroad is exciting! And I'm thrilled she'll get to experience that.
2. We might like Denmark! Birthplace of The Little Mermaid and home to the world's happiest people -- what's not to like?
   
3. Perhaps they have cool kids' clothing boutiques over there so that Jilly's niece and nephew can aspire to be European hip and in the know. Hee.
   
4. Care packages direct from me to her. Nestle chocolate chips? Jif Peanut Butter? CHECK.
   
5. Five Weeks Mandatory Vacation. So maybe we WILL see her and HB once in a while, after all.
   

Held og lykke, Jilly! I am so proud and happy for you! Have an adventure. Post lots of pictures and I'll see you on Skype!

Happy new year

I did have fun shopping for Amber's Pay It Forward prize. I hope she will like it. I never did see that movie, but when I was shipping the package I was thinking all sorts of good karma over it, sending my best friendship and kindness and peace vibes through the wonder of the postal service (well, FedEx actually). I liked the idea of that.

That was Friday. Our weekend was quiet and good. Until today, I've felt like we're still in recovery from June and July. But now we're all cleaned up (the house, I mean), all the birthday presents have found homes, and we're about to cross the threshold into full-on August, which means Pre-K! Same school, but it still promises to be a new experience for AJ. I hope he'll like it. We have an open house at the school next week, to meet and greet. Supplies lists are posted at the stores. I'm excited to now start counting years from August to August. It's like revisiting my own childhood, in a way. I hope the weather hurries up and complies. It is too hot. Il fait trop chaud.

Heritage

Trotty-trot, trot,
To Boston-town,
You go up, and
I go down.

If you get there
Before I do,
Tell them I
Am Coming, Tooooooooooo!



*My granny used this rhyme to entertain me and my cousins all the time.