Jilli - no. And not for several months - I start classes on April 4, and it's Monday and Wednesday evenings until 8:30. MAYBE next week as a "last hurrah" sort of thing.

Talking babytalk to Peev is always a good idea. ESPECIALLY near his birthday.

"Peev, happy birthday, have a headshot! kerblam!" - Every spring during his Halo fragfest/birthday party.

Most satisfying.

Best line from spam in a while.

"We met at execrate and went to headboard where we had lunch at mess. It was costa and a orr was had pat by all."

There's something kind of poetic about it in a choppy, surreal way.

There was something on the radio the other day talking about child development and apparently baby talk - not, I think, the made-up words, but the sing-songy tones - is actually more accessible to infants than the more monotone patterns of normal speech. Who knew? Besides, I guess, generation upon generation of parents.

Sometimes, there are just beautifully perfect days. This was one.

We got enough sleep and O let me get ready and we left RIGHT on time. Got to see Deena, Kara & Aidan and Perkins! The enclosed Rainforest exhibit is the perfect thing on a cold, gray, rainy Cleveland afternoon.

What's better than spending time with Buffistas and babies? Coming back and having nice things said about you.

Owen slept nearly the whole ride to Cleveland and the nearly the whole ride back (which, due to excellent planning fell during his normal nap times). So he was a perfect little gentleman at the zoo.

My favorite animal was the two-toed sloth. The sloth's my totem animal.

zoo babies 1 zoo babies 2 zoo babies 3 zoo babies 4 zoo babe

There was something on the radio the other day talking about child development and apparently baby talk - not, I think, the made-up words, but the sing-songy tones - is actually more accessible to infants than the more monotone patterns of normal speech.

Yep. I've seen this as well. Too lazy to google for it, though.

The zoo babies (and zoo babe) pics are great, Cashmere!

I left my desk for ten minutes and came back to chaos. My papers were all over the place, my pictures strewn about, kleenex on my keyboard, etc. You throw a stapler at someone and suddenly they think they have the right to mess with your belongings. Pfft!

And downstairs in the lobby I saw the cutest boy! He could've been Orlando's twin. Looked just like him. And I look like ass.

This day just keeps on not getting better.

WWJSL? (i.e., What Would Jesus Smell Like?)

{{{Nicole}}} Feel better.

Only you have to say the "r" as a "w" and make funny faces at him while saying it.

PREVIOUSLY, on "Same as it Ever Was": Yesterday, while we were driving Chris to school, Julia was talking about which letters they'd been concentrating on at school. Julia still retains some Elmer Fuddesque speech patterns, but tries hard to overcome them.

ME: What letter will you get this week, do you know?

JULIA: I'm not sure. Maybe Y.

ME: You had W last week, right?

JULIA: Yep.

ME: Tell me some w words.

JULIA: Um...wibrary?

JULIA: Um...wibrary?

Adorable!

New tags for Nicole, Almare, Lyra Jane, and Betsy.

I am giving a talk to the entire department on Friday. I will either kick ass or be eaten alive.