he would like to know what people think of a keychain tag with your car insurance info on it or possibly with the phone numbers to call in case of an accident.

I think it is a great idea-- perhaps if it were the same size/type as the grovery store card keytags? When I have gotten into even the most minor of accidents, I am completely without rational thought, so this would help tell me what to do, I think.

I read the NY times article about the kids left home alone, and the thing that bothered me was at the end the girl and her FIFTEEN YEAR OLD BROTHER could not figure out how to clean up the dog's diarrhea? Really? I think they just preferred not to. Of course, my mom gets dry heaves over any bodily fluid, so I had to clean up the dog vomit/diarrhea and my own vomit from a fairly young age.

I am way, way, way beyond gronk this morning. I'm so tired, I can't think of anything witty to say about how tired I am.

I think it is a great idea-- perhaps if it were the same size/type as the grovery store card keytags? When I have gotten into even the most minor of accidents, I am completely without rational thought, so this would help tell me what to do, I think.

Definitely. Also would be helpful if you've loaned your car to someone.

I am way, way, way beyond gronk this morning. I'm so tired, I can't think of anything witty to say about how tired I am.

Me too.

I'm fairly ungronky, which is actually rather surprising, considering I landed at midnight in Manchester, drove to Somerville by 1:30, and didn't get to sleep until after 2 AM. Yet I am actually kind of coherent here.

It is a puzzle. Perhaps you have stolen my most-deserved gronk away from me.

On the whole, it's OK if you keep it.

I used to babysit my siblings (3 and 6 years younger) starting at 11 or so, and I was home alone after school at 10. We had neighbors with whom we were very close (they kept my siblings after school) and I always had backup. I didn't always rely on my backup, like the time Brother threw up and I forgot you're supposed to throw up in the toilet and had him throw up in the sink. That was gross. But I cleaned it up myself.

I babysat for other people's kids, including babies, by 12. What where they thinking? I look at 12 year olds now and wonder how they'd handle my kids. I've never hired a sitter under 16!

perhaps if it were the same size/type as the grovery store card keytags?

I think this is the idea.

When I was 14, I was a live-in babysitter (2nd shift from 3-midnight) for a 1 year old, a 3 year old and a 6 year old.

I wasn't really left alone (well, me and my twin) because we had older sibs--my sisters were 10 and 9 years older than us and I think they started babysitting us fairly early, though. Maybe around 11 or 12. We were pretty mature. I think it very much depends on the kids and their individual personality and maturity level.

Mail server is deciding to take 5 minutes to switch between messages. May kill something.

Read over at sciffy:

Warner Brothers' consumer products division is developing a new version of the classic children's franchise Banana Splits as a multiplatform effort starting Sept. 2, with shorts and music videos airing on Cartoon Network and its Web site, as well as future DVD and CD releases and live performances, Variety reported.

Warner Brothers' consumer products division is developing a new version of the classic children's franchise Banana Splits as a multiplatform effort starting Sept. 2

I am both thrilled and horrified.

Huh.

ION, I am very gronky today. I'm just very tired and fatigued and I ache all over. My butt in particular aches a lot, especially when I walk. I thought about calling in sick, but decided to try to make it through the day anyway.

I have Ibuprophin for my butt-ache.

the thing that bothered me was at the end the girl and her FIFTEEN YEAR OLD BROTHER could not figure out how to clean up the dog's diarrhea?

Hah! This farm-boy laughs in the face of the... fifteen year old boy....