Susan, I was just going to ask you how church went this morning since I know how much you were looking forward to it.

Sounds very cool!

It was wonderful--there are few things I love more than singing, especially all the traditional old school choral stuff that gets pulled out for Christmas and Easter.

We'll have to post some Annabel pictures to show the contrast from Easter '04 to Easter '05. In my completely unbiased opinion she was the cutest kid ever in her Easter dress.

And in flashback land for me, Gary announced as we were warming up that one of the tenors wouldn't be there because he had a baby--they'd gone in for an induction on Friday. "That was fast," thought I at my most cynical. But then the tenor came in, only a little late, explaining the hospital hadn't had room for them, so they're to go back tomorrow or Tuesday. And since the baby is transverse (i.e. neither breech nor head down but somewhere in between) they're going to have to try to externally manipulate it into pointing the right way before they start. Ouch.

Today was not that bad as holidays go. I gave teacup guy an Easter basket this morning, mainly filled with things I think his apartment could use and lots and lots of chocolate. I had dinner at my mother's house with my stepfather's family. I showed off pictures of teacup guy (sorry I didn't get the picture CD yet so I can't post them). Then I went to go visit the other relatives and brought my nephews their Easter baskets. I ate way too much and I took home enough leftovers that are enough for dinner for teacup guy and me tommorrow night (yay for saving money!).

Mom bought me way too much stuff, candy, a cute Spring outfit, and a giftcertificate to the bookstore.

{{{Laura's DH}}} Health~ma.

{{{Susan}}} Feel better.

Hi, all.

Laura, tell B. I hope he feels better! Ouch. (But dude, it could have been a testicular hernia! Tell him that and watch him cringe and moan.)

I did absolutely nothing Eastery. I graded papers at work, and then housesat for a while, played with the kitties I'm watching, and now I'm home. I'm trying to find a waitressing job, since my student teaching gig is over on April 15th, and while I have a few sub gigs lined up, I'll need something else to bring in the bacon.

I'm hoping to find some full-time teaching gig over the summer, but I'll fall back on waitressing or temping if I have to.

Askye, is it just a regular med that helps you sleep, or are you using something like Ambien? Cause my regular AD does nothing for my insomnia, and I have to supplement with Ambien (although I've cut my dosage).

But then I have chronic insomnia; I'm just wondering what's working for you.

I'd like something for insomnia, but my doctor doesn't want to give me anything habit forming, therefore, no ambien. If things don't improve I'm going to have words with her.

We went to Nick's house for Easter dinner. The mom of one of his roommates was bringing dinner so Nick decided to stay there and cajole us until we came rather than come over to our house. It was nice though. We had a good time and they have an actual back yard. It's tiny, but big enough to hid easter eggs in.

There are pictures (a lot of them) here: [link]

sj, there are a couple in particular you'll want to see.

serial:

Laura, I hope Brendan is in less pain and that the surgery is simple, easy, and quickly recovered from.

Great pictures, Deena. Aidan and Kara are both adorable, and I love Kara's hair.

We just gave Annabel a spare keyboard to play with. So far pressing the buttons is pleasure enough, though I figure eventually she'll notice hers doesn't make anything happen on a screen and grow dissatisfied with life again.

Susan, hopefully it will take a while. We gave Aidan one that clicked and he was happy with it for a month or two.

I actually went to church this morning, since a very dear family friend was in town, and I always end up at church when she's around. It was not bad - there was a line circling all the way around the block, but we Know People, so we got to arrive just before the service and get escorted in through the side entrance to a spot right in front. I was very entertained about using connections for church. The church is beautiful - 4th Presbyterian on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, right by the Water Tower. The new associate minister is Scottish and has a very thick accent, which led to impure thoughts, but otherwise I was good. Then easter dinner at the home of another close family friend who is a former minister at that church herself. Now I'm home, I've unloaded my sister and her BF back to Milwaukee (they've been here the last two weekends) and I'm thinking about heading to the tub with some of last week's Lush haul.

ETA: Ooh! Matzo ball soup. Maybe that's what I'll have for dinner. I always try to keep some of the mix around since it's so easy and satisfying.

Deena, your babies are sooooooooooo cute, as is your teenager. Can you get on AIM for a quick minute?