A few years ago, I had a job babysitting for a two-year-old and a six-year-old several afternoons a week. The two-year-old was going through some major separation anxiety, and would sob for about 15 minutes after his mother left, and then at least a once or twice during the afternoon, in the middle of playing or whatever, his eyes would just well up and he'd look around and ask, "Mommy?" This was going on pretty much every time I sat for them, for an entire summer.

His older brother was usually pretty good with distracting him when he was crying, but then one time, the little one knocked over a block tower that the older one had been building, and the older one screamed at him, "Mommy's never coming home. NEVER EVER!" I have never seen hysterics in a little kid like what the little one went into then.

Totally unrelated to anything, this is the afghan square I just finished crocheting: [link] I absolutely love it. I think it's just gorgeous and a perfect mix of the colors we're using in the afghan.

Purdy!

vw -- that's really pretty!

Oh, that's gorgeous.

His older brother was usually pretty good with distracting him when he was crying, but then one time, the little one knocked over a block tower that the older one had been building, and the older one screamed at him, "Mommy's never coming home. NEVER EVER!" I have never seen hysterics in a little kid like what the little one went into then.

YIKES! Oh, I would have wanted to muzzle the big kid. Sheesh.

I'm trying to decide how many more of that style to make. I'll probably make three more, so there's an even number. I'm going to take a break from it for a bit, though, and try another fun style.

Oh dear. Remember a while back when we were posting pics of fugly boots? Weren't one of them sort of horrible tan suede elf boots? I swear my boss is wearing them right now. With jeans tucked in. And a long black sweater wrap thingy.

ETA: Kinda like these [link] only tan

Gronklies.

We haven't decided yet whether Annabel is too sick to be babysat. Need to do that soon.

My cold symptoms are no worse, but my lower back is stiff, probably as a result of all the time I spent sitting in stop and go traffic yesterday fetching our keynote speaker from the airport, dropping her off at the hotel, and going home. There was still bad traffic at 7:30. Ugh.

no back spasms no back spasms no back spasms.....

Speaking of boots, I'm wearing these today, which I bought yesterday, and so far I *love* them: [link]

Comfy, cool-looking, and since they have a heel, I feel (and sound) like a badass when I walk down the hall.

(Yes, they're from Payless, because I am [1] hell on shoes -- I destroy them in a matter of months; and [2] cheap, partly b/c of [1]. No point in paying a fortune for shoes that I'm going to systematically destroy. And I tried the theory of "more expensive means better-made, which means they won't get destroyed so fast" -- but, no. That theory doesn't work when it comes to me and shoes. I only pay a lot for gym shoes.)

Ooh, I like.