We arrive July 8, according to my plan, and will be there until Aug 1. We are busy all weekends but would love to get together during the week. I'm seriously looking for stuff to do with the kids while Joe is in class so that would be great.

Ooh, Stephanie-- I'm going to be in DC from the 9th, Lewis and kids included, then he goes back home after the weekend and I stay there until the 18th, I think, kids included, for my National conference. We're going to be doing the zoo and museums and such and while Nate and Abby are considerably older, they get along like gangbusters with younger kids. We'll definitely have to make a plan.

I suppose, now that I know what dates I'm going to be there, I should put something in F2F.

I am at the courthouse on jury duty. I dropped J off at the airport at 5:30am, and ran home to walk the dogs so I could make it here by 7. They didn't open the doors until almost 8. Still, happy to be doing my civic duty.

now that I know what dates I'm going to be there, I should put something in F2F

::noddy nod nods::

I hope you have something interesting to listen to today, Scrappy.

Gronk. Ate lunch, now trying to decide what to do with the rest of the day. I'm leaning toward staying in and trying to get some cleaning done. I'll feel better when my apartment isn't so messy, and I don't have too much research to do today anyway.

Possible distraction for this in need of one: according to Gawker, Houston leads in Bottoms, NY leads in Tops. [link] .

Radon remediation is done. DH still has no voice. Child has advanced to barfing on the couch. And it's getting ready to hail.

I'd be hiding under the bed, except having been in that boat with Stephanie (moving and no orders and broken cars), I know she's got it worse.

~ma to you, S.

Lots of ~ma to Stephanie (and ugh on the windshield, and, yes, when you're already wound tight from stress even one more glitch is too much), and to Raq and her voiceless DH and barfing Mal. All of you sound like you're handling enough stress all at once for five or six different families.

And {{{Shir}}}. Everyone has already said lots of wise stuff, so I'll just point and nod. If anything, I've been the energy-suck clue-not-getting friend more than the put-upon one in the past, and I wish to heaven people had been straight and blunt with me like you're trying to do with her. It's painful, but so much better in the long run.

Completely frivolous cereal:

These shoes, in lime or red or black: sugar, or boring or wrong or fugly in some way I'm not seeing?

I think sugar, but much more sugar in the stronger colors that show the contrast.

Great shoes, JZ!

I never wear pretty shoes. I really should, once in a while.

'Ashes to Ashes' season two finale - just watched. Intrigue, and all that.