My dad had Bell's Palsy when I was very small. I don't remember him actually wearing the eyepatch (he couldn't shut the eye on the side of the face that was affected), but we kids used it to play pirate with at various times. The fact dad had an epee stashed in one of the storage closets didn't hurt either. Whether or not the paralysis went away immediately, I couldn't say, but you can't tell now (40 years later.)

Thanks, guys. I'm going on the no-news-is-good-news theory.

But if I don't, he'll never learn how to behave.

Cashmere, you are 100% right about this, you know. And I know from doing it the right way (with Ben) and the wrong way with Chris. Julia got about half and half and is leagues ahead of the boys socially, anyhow.

Does this ever happen to anyone else, when posting--do you not want to put some stuff in posts about other stuff?

I had started that other post (kids & Bell's Palsy) before my mother called. I talked to her. I called my aunt. I got off the phone, and wanted to post about my cousin, but the other post was already finished. I just hadn't submitted it. But I didn't want to post about my cousin in the same post. I have no idea why. So I submitted the first, and then waited five minutes.

I think my brain is broken.

Yeah, I'm not above brown-nosing September a bit.

This year, September starts with a holiday weekend. I like that in a month.

Toddson, I'm so glad you're doing ok. Sorry your boss is being an asshat.

Cashmere, tantrums or no, you have the cutest kids.

Teacup Guy and I just came back from a day with vw. She made us a wonderful lunch and we hung around and played with Toto, who is the cutest dog ever. Then we went back to her old apartment and cleaned it out with Ellen and Theodosia. I did not kill either of her landlords because she asked me not to, but it was very tempting.

{{{Cindy}}} tons of health~ma to your cousin.

Lots of health-ma to your cousin, Cindy.

And...

Does this ever happen to anyone else, when posting--do you not want to put some stuff in posts about other stuff?

yes.

How great the vw had so much help today! You all are awesome.

sj, thank you. Cute is the only thing that saves them sometimes.

Does this ever happen to anyone else, when posting--do you not want to put some stuff in posts about other stuff?

All the time. Usually it's a tone thing. I don't like to put snark or humor in the same posts about serious stuff.

Does this ever happen to anyone else, when posting--do you not want to put some stuff in posts about other stuff?

Yeah. I also don't like posting some stuff right after some other kinds of stuff that someone else has posted... And I post so rarely, relatively, that I end up not saying half what I meant to.

Know what I hate? I hate when my friends/acquaintances throw a party with the ulterior motive of getting money/swag. Like, Saturday I'm invited to a party. Now I find that it's really a dedication ceremony for their new baby, and presents for baby and for parents are implicitly expected. And, it's an outdoor thing and it's going to rain like the devil. Now I wish I'd begged off. Damn. I'm just going to assume from now on that any party I get invited to, I'm expected to bring presents.

And, dammit, I'm flat broke right now. I don't have the spare $$ to go buying stuff for anyone who isn't me and starving. I don't want to put flowers and onesies on my overburdened credit card. Dammit.

Cashmere, how's your back feeling?

Not only did Steph not mind, she was wonderful about reassuring me that my child was not a little monster. I do sometimes worry about this stage and it makes me reluctant to take on the task of taking him out amongst the Humans. But if I don't, he'll never learn how to behave.

O is just exerting his 2-year-old-ness. He's still a total cutehead, especially when he's exclaiming "To impinity....and beyond!" He also does a completely random primal yell, which I took to doing right back at him. And at one point when he was yelling "Apple juice! Apple juice!" I yelled "Budweiser! Budweiser!" He looked a bit perplexed.

She was also a trooper and took care of Liv while I was chasing O around the zoo and wrestling him back into the stroller when he refused to hold my hand or follow me.

There was no trooper-ness about it; Liv is my new main squeeze. She is a total honeybunny and it was only sheer force of will that stopped me from keeping her when you left.

He also does a completely random primal yell

Christopher just says he's sounding his barbaric yawp. Primal is a good word here.

My back is actually very good at the moment. Had a nice, hot bath and DH did all the bath and bedtime stuff. Thanks!