Nicole and I are plotting what time we need to leave tomorrow to get her to the airport. Is an hour and a half long enough for our oh so impromptu stop at the Shrine of the Gothy Harry Potter chocolate store?

Oh, Trudy, that's so awesome! You couldn't have had better people to see it with, either.

Hi Laura! It's nice to see you.

Hi Fay! I have to explain the reverse here, try to convey how old you are when you're in such and such grade in America. Still don't quite get the translation for college here.

Raq, I did much the same when I was at university in Wales. All my professors were like, okay, you did the assignment already? Why? What am I supposed to do with this, I didn't want to grade until January!

Oh, Trudy! I'm so glad it worked out! Not jealous. Really. Just thrilled for you three.

Hmmmm...Cass, I'd plan at least two hours if there's gonna be a flirting stop.

Toto is being really goofy this morning. Sometimes he forgets his bone is to be chewed and not tossed around like a squeaky toy. This morning has been one of those times. So, he's been tossing the bone in the air, chasing after it, realizing it's a bone, chewing on it for a bit, then lather, rinse, repeat...until the bone landed right next to his squeaky toy, and he realize that was what he really wanted.

Warm wishes to those denied adequate heat. I still have plenty of hot sun to spare.

Laura, hi!

I'm not usually envious of Florida weather, but I've been cold all weekend. We went to Maine on Saturday. The cottage has no central heat and the electric baseboard heat is expensive to run. Our heat here was off, so when we got home, we were still cold.

No no no! Year 4 and Year 5.

Oops, my bad. I did read that as '4 and 5 years' or something. So year 4 and 5 would be children somewhere around ages eight to ten? I wouldn't take them to the jungle either, but mostly because I'd fear them.

You're not 'promoted to Grade 2', you just automatically go up a year group because you're a year older. Our levelling system is a progressive continuum, so children's levels continue to go up and up and up as they stay at school and learn more stuff - but within any given year group, children will be working at a range of levels. Thus a child's writing may be at Level 2a, which could mean that that child is a clever 5 year old or a slow 8 year old.

We had a version of this in the 70s, called social promotion, but we didn't do it well, and ended up with 12 year olds who couldn't read. We do have different levels within the grades, depending on the school system (and its funding).

I dunno, maybe I'm just, well, me, but the jungle field trip sounds cool. Lots of children actually LIVE in the jungle, in villages and even smaller communities, and Basic Leech Defense is a valuable life skill (and they head for the warmth, so yeah, they are going to head for your underwear area if they can). I can't think of anything that squicks me more than leeches, and I spent many many days in the jungle (Constant Vigilance! Also, go first, as the motion alerts the leeches but they don't move fast enough to drop onto the first person). The only injury I ever got while trekking was a bruise on my butt from slipping while in a waterfall.

I suspect it's me being me. I employ constant vigiliance by staying out of areas where I have to worry about things like leeches. /city slicker

Leeches! Ewww.

Jealous of Trudy and Victor and Lea. Good to read you had an opportunity to play together and say bye to CBGB.

Time needs to be scheduled to take pictures of Gothy Harry Potter.

Hi all. Missed you muchly. The boys are good. Short week of school this week, end of first 9 weeks. Nervous about report cards. I hate being punishment mom all the time.

In between school runs. Brendon already in class. I told him as soon as the time changes he is on the bus. This 7:30 start time for school is nuts. Now it's time to get Bobby going.

Where did the weekend go? All work and no play is making Laura a dull girl. I did make reservations for 4 nights camping in Key West for Thanksgiving. Campground with a marina for the boat. I don't feel like dealing with extended family so I'm camping for Thanksgiving this year. Sugarloaf Key if anyone wants to join me.

Oh, Laura! That sounds lovely.

Also, fabulous to see you!

Hi morning crew! Well, morning my time, not so much for Raq and Fay.

Are you getting all settled in with the new place and schedule, vw?

Maine sounds nice. Were there lots of pretty leaves? I've only been once. I tried to hook up with CV, but her grandfather was ill at that time and we couldn't work out the timing. I skimmed that Lee was on vacation. Is she headed Maineward?

I'm all out of the loop, and loopy too.

Are you getting all settled in with the new place and schedule, vw?

Yup. Still got a few straggler bags and boxes to go through, but did a bunch with those yesterday. Bless my friend, A, for coming over to help. And the schedule is crazy, but good. Thanks for asking.

Were there lots of pretty leaves?

Yes! Yes! I want to know this too. I met mom and dad for brunch yesterday, and just the leaves I saw on my way there were amazing. I'm thinking of taking Toto up the Arnold Arboretum [link] today for a nice, long Fall walk through there. I bet it's gorgeous right now.

Mmmmm Fall. They promise a bit of a temperature drop. I'm thinking I might be able to open windows at night and turn off the A/C soon.

No pretty leaves here, but mom sent me Otter Lake pics. [link]

Off to shower then do the next school run...

Oh, Laura, that's a beautiful picture.