awesome news Aimee.

fantastic idea Beverly.

awesome big sister Ellie!

that is all until I have enough coffee to overcome the waking up at 2:30 am.

Superb news, Empress! Huzzah!

Wow, Ellie is just the most disarming thing in the history of EVER.

Fay, I'm glad the holiday with lots of water is when it's hot (although it probably doesn't ever get really cold there, does it?).

Ha! Yes, unlike Egypt, over here it never actually gets even a tiny little bit coldish. It's Very Fucking Hot, Very Fucking Hot And Also Raining Like Something Out Of The Bible, or Sweet Baby Jesus I Think I Died And Am Being Broiled By The Flames Of Hell.

(The Let's-Throw-Scented-Water-On-Each-Other festival falls in the latter 'season'. Good Thinking, Buddhist People!)

I can haz nap-time now?

I got back to my parent's house about 11pm last night. I slept for a few hours and then got up with my dad at 5:15 this morning so that I could ride into town with him and be dropped off at home, where I proceeded to crawl into bed with Joe and fall back to sleep until he woke me up to actually take a shower and leave for work.

Gronkity gronk gronk gronk.

Gronkity gronk gronk gronk.

Hey, me too.

I had the hardest time sleeping the last couple of nights because my wife and child weren't home.

It's WEIRD that we're BOTH exhausted!

sneaks in with water gun carefully hidden

Yes, Queen Bev!

We all worked as teens. We wanted the cash, dude! So many of the kids have so much already they don't care so much about cash to spend. My kids know we all have to work.

I'm a bit of a complainer too. I know I'm ridiculously lucky, but I still complain about shit. The trick is learning to whom to complain and when -- then it can be a useful venting tool and make you feel a little better. If all you do is complain, you piss off your audience and reinforce your own bad feeling -- saying, "I'm bored" all the time actually will make you boreder. Er, or that may be just me.

Besides, I like a good rant. It's fun. Still, I try never to forget that I have unbelievably good fortune, that I live one of the most comfortable lives that has ever existed on the planet, and that tons of people have real problems, while mine are, like, high school bullshit.

Not just you, Emily -- appropriate complaining is a life skill!

mine are, like, high school bullshit.

sometimes literally...

Happy owen day!

sending out the money $$.

I don't think it is wishing someone harm if you hope life gives them a kick in the pants. Sometimes you need a wakeup call - and honestly, sooner is better. Late in life wake up calls don't always lead to compassion.

Most of the jobs I've had were boring. factory work and soft ware testing are the same job - one is just cleaner. hostessing at a restaurant. I found out there that I have better people skills than most. If you have a waitress that can't handle more than 4 tables - don't give her ore than 4- otherwise, the customers will complain.

I think complaining is part of being a teenager. I think it is because they are in that weird place of wanting to move forward, but then again being a kid is ore fun.

I know I live a privileged life. ( i wasn't done yet - I posted!) I am very protective of it , because I feel that it could change dramatically . But we keep the 30 days show on our TIVO where they lived on minimum wage for 30 days- just as a reminder when I sart to feel sorry for myself.

Laga, my favorite, hearty soup recipe would work (potato soup):

I make a very similar soup, but instead of using butter, I chop up a slice or two of bacon, render off the fat, remove the bacon, and then do exactly what you do. And then I sprinkle the bacon on top. Sometimes, I add shredded cheese, too.

I have marked Windsparrow’s soup. I’m curious, though, why the baking soda?

My ideas are somewhat draconian, but I do believe every able citizen should spend two years between high school graduation and college entry performing service, either to their community or some other, away from home and everything familiar.

I totally agree. We need national service, a common experience, a maturation chamber.

Ugh. Timelies, peeps.

So, yeah. S was supposed to come home yesterday but somebody dropped the ball and the discharge never happened. I'm getting ready to go pick her now.