Corwood, I'm betting you could easily get your hands on some La Leche literature (I'm betting they have PDFs on the web) that specifically addresses Dobson's dubious advice. Actually, from what I hear, Dobson hasn't a single bit of good advice to offer....

Al-gebraists had issued a fatwah and declared Ji-ahmetry on all of America's best and brightest students.

Laura, do you find now that people expect more maturity from yoru boys, because they're tall? I still see that with Ben. He's smart, and he's good, and he's tall (although not as big as your sons) and so people expect him to be mature to a degree I believe is beyond most ten year old boys (and is beyond them, as far as I can see from watching his friends).

My parents had neighbors for a while with Marfan's (?) syndrome, which makes them really tall. It was weird (and really hard for the kids), because the kids seemed nearly retarded until you could put it together how old they actually were vs. what they looked like.

Excerpts from a Dog's Daily Diary:

8:00 am Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm Wow! Watched TV with my master! Heavenly!
11:00 pm Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary:

Day 683 of my captivity:My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the floor. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The audacity!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released --and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. The captives have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe....... for now....

Casper is big for her age - we had a friend over yesterday who is 5 months older and weighs about 15 pounds less than she does - but she's also talkative for her age, which helps some. We had some problems with other kids (3-4 years old) expecting her to be more mature than was age-appropriate last fall, though, when she was barely 2.

We went to see PoTC last night, and took the Dillo (who slept and nursed, as was appropriate) but left Casper at home, to me obviously. (I mean, with a sitter, not Home Alone.) But there were a ton of little kids in the theater - next to us a family with 1 and 3 year olds, and I saw several 6-8 year old girls as we were leaving. WTF? Not a film I'd take most kids under 12 or so to - there are scary and gross parts!

Pepto Bismol ice cream

No stranger to the drink, blogger Fraser decided to combine his two favorite hangover cures: Pepto Bismol and ice cream. The result looks like yummy pink goodness. Fraser says:

The taste? Actually, it's quite nice. The vanilla and sugar temper the metallic bitterness of the medicine, giving the end result a flavour not too dissimilar to black cherry. And as a hangover cure? Initial studies are encouraging, with no negative side-effects experienced as yet. A mild mid-week drinking session provided the first test, and while my cross-breed concoction certainly didn't eliminate the suffering altogether, the benefits did not go unnoticed.

I saw lots of small kids at PotC: DMC, too. It sort of weirded me out because it was awfully scary for young children but a lot of people just don't seem to care anymore.

Corwood, sorry for the family trauma and drama. Yeesh. I'm so lucky I didn't get any shit from my in-laws on child-rearing issues (even if they didn't always agree with us, they kept their traps shut).

Seekrit message to Cash:

Seekrit message to Aillean:You. Bet. Email me the times you want to go see it and I'll check the schedule.

Laura, do you find now that people expect more maturity from yoru boys, because they're tall?

All the time. When they were babies people expected them to be talking. Now the 14yo is 6'4" and people think he is a man. Not at all manly, just oversized kid.

On the Hemingway cats item above, I love that place. Even though they say there are all those cats you really don't notice. The house is open to the cats, but they are in the trees and around the property. I don't know what they do when there's a storm. No doubt they have a safe spot hide out.

You know, if you have to take Pepto Bismol regularly for hangovers, you might think about drinking less, rather than adding your hangover cure to ice cream....

I can't imagine taking my kids to PotC, not that I'll be seeing it myself. Scooby-Doo is pushing the envelope for them.