Yeah, I'm not aiming for winning, just deliciously different. And making something up. I am not a good baker. Or cook, for that matter. I wing it and it usually doesn't turn out half bad. Still preening over my apple crisp. Good apples were the secret (box of granola from Target, butter and brown sugar) Got me a grandmother's approval and pan came home empty and it was a total winging it.

Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany and some chick named Angelina.

Gleep.

One of the boys ate the last of the cheese poofs and I am So Not Amused.

Spice cookies (maybe pepakokr spice) with a bit of candied ginger and a ginger glaze. Must shop and find recipes to tweak.

CJ hasn't been a bully, but he has been bullied in the past. But never anything like this. And apparently J doesn't even say anything, it is just physical stuff.

Sorry, I didn't mean the bullying -- I just meant the anger and fighting -- so he might have some insights for J

The MSCL/female best friends is making me think of my proto-type BFF relationship, which is Jane Eyre/Helen Burns. Which, strangely, says a lot about me. Not all good.

Johnny Depp and Paul Bettany and some chick named Angelina.

Paul Bettany is MINE! You can have your Johnny and your Angelina, but I OWN Wimbledon (the movie).

CJ is 14. He is physically stronger than J, but has much better control over his temper than J.

Wasn't always so, right? Karate's been so good for CJ.

Well, I don't want to discourage you from addressing this, but I will note that Emmett's casual relationships with his male friends is so much more physically rough and violent on a daily basis than is generally condoned.

They're freakin' little testosterone bombs and it's not uncommon for them to engage in quite painful exchanges. Nut-sack taps, and face punching, and kidney punching and ear-flicking and whatnot.

I'd take my cue from how CJ reads it or understands it. Is he fearful seeing this kid? Or is it just part of the general landscape?

Drawing blood with a pencil doesn't strike me as particularly egregious for that cohort.

I don't know what my claim on Paul Bettany is, but it's strong, dammit.

Boris! Kodjoe! I'm so sorry you have no job anymore. I will console you.

David, I respectfully disagree.

Given that both these boys take karate together, given that they are each taught self-control, sincerity, character, effort and etiquette as basic parts of functioning as a human, both within and outside the dojo, given that both boys are high ranks and both boys have been through the assistant instructor training, I expect them each to be able to keep their tempers under control and to NOT draw blood.

Boys will be boys. Whatever. Bodily harm is not acceptable.

I think if CJ has brought it up, he finds it unacceptable, and that's enough.