I'm so glad Cass has the good pain meds. I'm wishing access to the same for vw and whoever else is in need.

Yay! on buttery, oaky, yummy wines. I need some wine edjumacating. I used to have a decent, if a beginner's, palate for reds. Whites just haven't been my thing.

It's so great to see Maria excited about not only the pretty dress and the 10-foot-train!, but the guy. Lovely.

As is the homeward rush of Pete and Paul to save their damsels from ugly arachnids. I must say, my own DH has done the same, and often.

Jobma to Susan, and Jilli, I'm very sorry they saw fit to go with the lesser of the choices open to them.

Lovely, too, is the 'cane news moratorium in Bitches. It's a relief and a refuge. Also, count me in for a basket or collection of treats or practical things for -t.

As always, Mr. tea, the Wally report is received with great interest and definite approval of the positive receipt of your advances.

JS! Why does your clan-sect-group-thing have a Cymru (Welsh) dragon on your tabards?

Have you picked a tat design, erika?

3) Something must be up with animals named Oz.

I think they are all insane.

Count me in on the care package too.

As always, Mr. tea, the Wally report is received with great interest and definite approval of the positive receipt of your advances.

See, and this is the response I keep hoping for with the Laydeez.

I finally broke down and bought a baby monitor, since it's easier to hear the baby next door or the upstairs neighbors than it is to hear Mal. Unfortunately my wireless keyboard interferes with it, sending it into orgies of beeping. Now is that a first-world problem or what?

The olive-oil-as-painkiller thing was interesting. Maybe that's why the baby vet recommended olive oil in the constipation treatment. I certainly think it explains how Greek women can wear the shoes they do. I'd come to the conclusion that they simply lack nerves in their feet (especially after seeing a woman resting her feet, in thin sandals, on the exhaust pipes of a motorcycle), but maybe they just get enough olive oil to withstand the pain.

And the necklace is done. Sanity link and hang check tomorrow, plus pictures.

Unfortunately my wireless keyboard interferes with it, sending it into orgies of beeping. Now is that a first-world problem or what?

Check the order you turn the units on in, because ours is next to a wireless keyboard, and will be cranky if you don't turn them on in a certain (mysterious to me) order. If that doesn't help, glower.

We actually only use the monitor for when I'm trapped in here with Lillian and Paul is doing something on the computer. That way, I can request backup without yelling.

I've been dinking with the channel settings to see it that helps also. So far no love.

Mallory's having one of those days where he forgets how to go to sleep. He's tired and crankyfussy, but can't quite let go of consciousness.

I, on the other hand, am really sleepy. Our neighbors had a party from 11:30 - 6:30, and several of the guests hit our buzzer to be admitted to the premises. The buzzer is scary loud, and right outside the bedroom. That was in addition to the bumping music, the screaming, and the slamming doors.

We actually only use the monitor for when I'm trapped in here with Lillian and Paul is doing something on the computer. That way, I can request backup without yelling.

We need to learn to turn the monitors off, especially when we have people staying. My brother in law spent a week with us last year and I keep wondering what the hell he heard on the monitor down by the computer (where he slept most of the time)--because our bedroom is right next to the nursery and you can pretty much hear the entire upstairs on the monitor.

((((Gud and family))))

Gud, can you have a housekeeper come in once a week?

Gud, if your family finances allow, I'd suggest looking into this idea. And if once a week is too expensive, maybe once every other week is doable.

We have a maid service come in every other week, and it makes a huge difference.

(Mal's finally asleep, so I'm catching up)

Jilli, those people don't know what they are missing. I'm beaming thoughts at them to reconsider their decision and call you back!

Also, why does my wife seem upset that I've made a net $700 on my stock trades from my $1900 of investment money since the end of June?

No clue, Gud, but I'm impressed. We've been hemorrhaging money in the stock market recently.

Also, if you don't mind me asking, why did you guys decide to home school? How does the whole home-schooling thing work? Do you still have to administer standardized tests and adhere to the state's precepts for curriculae?

Also, if you don't mind me asking, why did you guys decide to home school? How does the whole home-schooling thing work?

I'm not quite as much in favor of the home schooling as my wife. However, Missouri law doesn't allow our daughter to go to first grade this year (she's six) and she is way beyond kindergarten. Private school is just too expensive, so that pretty much leaves home schooling. It's kind of a free year in way, even if our daughter didn't learn a dang thing she can't go to first grade until next year anyhow.

She's actually enrolled in a Texas extended school district, so her lesson plan and materials is set by that school district and she gets graded on her work by a teacher in Texas.