A couple of feet of snow, shoveling, 13º, shoveling, -5º windchill, shoveling, more snow on the way, shoveling, schools closed but not work, shoveling . . . . OK, that's enough winter. Let's have spring now, please.

You know how in yearbooks they have a section on those who were voted most popular, most likely to succeed, smartest, funniest, etc? With a boy and a girl for each? In Laura's school, three kids are nominated for each category - Laura was nominated for smartest, most attractive, and best hair - then the whole 8th grade votes ( Read more... )

Yesterday:
+ 14 mile bike ride (don't laugh, that's a lot for me)
++ in perfect weather
++ on the canal at its most picturesque
+++ with my daughter
+ more outdoors, walking with wotw+ kids suggesting we scrounge for dinner, rather than me cooking ( Read more... )

Driver ed class: where children go to learn to criticize their parents' driving.

One good/bad consequence of my promotion is my employer is going to buy me a cell phone. I don't need anything fancy, just voice and text for the time being, so I'm to stick to the free choices offered here.

Which one should I get?

My promotion finally came through, with a raise too! I've only been working on this for about 15 months. Of course, this means Even More Work and Higher Taxes, but hey, it feels good for the moment!

The other night my daughter (age 13) announced she has a boyfriend (her first). He happens to be African-American, although that didn't come up until her brothers and I went looking for him in her yearbook. Also, one of her good friends has two mommies. Meanwhile, one of my sons' (almost 16) best friends is (and I mean this in the most ( Read more... )

The 106 most-owned least-read books:

+ read it
- haven't read it
? not sure

( the list )

What mom says (calm friendly voice): "That turn was a little fast."

What kid presumably hears: "ACK! You're going to kill us all! What were you thinking? You'll never learn to drive at this rate!"

Kid's reaction: "STOP YELLING AT ME!"

Mom bites tongue and takes deep breaths. Mom is losing tongue at a fast rate.

7th graders are required to do 3 hours of community service as part of health class. Laura decided to pick up trash in the neighborhood. But she feared it would be boring, so she recruited, Tom Sawyer-style, three of her friends to help her (friends who aren't taking health now). I'm not sure whether to call this laziness or leadership.