When he heard it, he thought it was one of the boys until they pointed to me.

A likely story.

Don't know my first word, but I was always told my brother's first word was "sockee." Or was that "saki"?

If I'd waited until I could say things properly...

Well, I'd still be waiting. I have a hard time with certain letters blurring together when I speak, and the speech therapy wasn't much help. F often sounds like V when I say it, etc. Drives my mother batshit, it does. Which is fun now, but was frustrating when I was a kid.

My brother did the skill-hiding thing with reading.

I'm at work. I'm bored. I finished everything I was supposed to do while my boss was out. I tried to tell her I needed more, but she was certain that would keep me busy.

(((Anne and family)))

chocolate chip cookie dough pop-tarts:

Are these any good? I see them in the store, and ... they scare me.

If I'd waited until I could say things properly...

Well, I'd still be waiting.

Me too. My mom could understand me, but there were years of speech therapy involved in making it so anyone else could.

I still say "r" as "w" sometimes if I'm not careful, and I can't do the French/Spanish/Scottish rolling R at all.

Ple's speech is as distinctive as her thought patterns.

Emmett's first word was "juice" ("jooos"). He did the usual babbling then responding with Yes or No headshakes indicating he understood us, then animal noises and words etc. Very typical except he was a little bit early for boys (19 months).

Catching up a bit, Albert Ellis is in his 90's now but he remains feisty and opinionated. A couple of years ago at a psychology convention there was a "discussion" between Ellis and Aaron Beck, who is another pioneer of cognitive therapy who is now in his 80's. Beck was charming and accommodating. Ellis was blunt and wasted no words. From a description of their exchange: 'Beck reflected and then said, to Ellis: "Everybody believes they're right. Why should we believe *you*?" Not missing a beat, Ellis replied, "I believe the probability exists that I'm wrong and they're right... but it's only a very low degree of probability." '

Are these any good? I see them in the store, and ... they scare me.

They taste just like every other non-fruit pop tart, oddly enough.

Ellis replied, "I believe the probability exists that I'm wrong and they're right... but it's only a very low degree of probability."

This encapsulates my stance on the matter exactly.

/me sends quarters to all "helpless so someone else has to take care of stuff" relatives. Don't spend it all on one clue, dears.

Best ~ma to you and your mom, and grandmother, and the whole family, Anne.

Anne, so sorry your mom has to deal with crappy family stuff on top of dealing with losing her mother. Much strength to her and you and your whole family.

Also to Maria and your soon-to-be in-laws.

Oi. It is 80 degrees in my office and they won't fix the ac or get us fans. I'm a very, very cranky worker right now. Also, kind of hung over.

It is 80 degrees in my office and they won't fix the ac or get us fans.

At some point, aren't they legally obligated to close? Sheesh.

Thanks for the well-wishes on the whole Nana situation. I'll keep y'all posted as I hear anything.