I was expecting to see MM in stripey tights! what happened?

And I am off to see one of my doc friends about my painful ear infection. I had thought for the last week or so that I was getting a pimple or something because the outside of my ear hurt. Nope. Ouch! I'd have him just call in a script for me, but it hurts enough that I want him to see it.

I am completely in awe of one of my friends this week. She's got two kids -- older one is almost 4, and the baby is a week and a half old. I saw her in her office yesterday -- her schedule was to come in for office hours and to study, go back home to feed the baby (who's been refusing to drink from a bottle), come back to school in the afternoon for a class, and then go back home again. And somehow, she's only been looking very slightly more tired than usual. I have no idea how she does it.

Happy Birthday Ginger!

The cute kid factor is incredibly high!! The parents were styling too!

Suzi---LUV the costume, especially the cape!

The Avatar and Tink

Hil, is her baby her biological child?

Halloween on Capitol Hill was car-aaaa-zeeee. Gobs and gobs of kids...most of them bussed in. There is an enormous celebration at Easten Market, directly across the street from my house, so the foot traffic is incredible. I generally run out at about 7ish, just when the wee ones are finished.

I totally agree with the 'rules' for treating, but so many of the families that come my way drive in from the projects...no year goes by without a crack-addled mom or two. I will wave away the obviously much older kids on their own, but when the dad throws a bag under my nose for 'my son who didn't come', I don't really know what to say. I make lots of social comments in my everyday behavior, this one night of the year, I just let it go.

I took the day off (back pain) and carved my pumpkins. The VOTE pumpkin got huge play...many pictures were taken.

No real inspiration in the costumes this year...that was a disappointment. Of course, we do get our political statements. One kid was dressed as "Stop Global Warming." He had a posterboard with pics and facts and, in general, was my favorite. He got extra candy. Then there was the obligatory Republican. This one, all suited and slicked back, had laser printed business cards. Someone told him G.O.P. means Grope Our Pages.

The best family costume went to the March of the Penguins. Last year, the same familiy were all crocadile hunters. The year before, they were Ghostbusters. Very cute.

My nun's habit always gets a lot of attention...people asking me to bless them and such. Bartleby's sequined bow tie is also a hit. Whenever anyone asks me who his is dressed like, I say Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. It's hilarious how they'll look at him again, squint and say "Oh, yeah, I can see that."

He, the usually so obedient one, delicately reached into the huge plastic bins I had stuffed with candy and sloooowly nabbed a piece of candy...then vewy, vewy qwietly started to unrap it...as if I wouldn't notice! An equally quiet, 'leave it', from me garnered a guilty look and a quick stepping away. I swear, his expression was,"I'm sorry. REALLY, I'm sorry. But it was there. Just so very THERE and me? Well, I'ma dog and you know we're scavengers. And this wasn't, for all intents and purposes, not even scavenging. It was just there. And I'm here. And it smells sooo...well, you know. I just couldn't help myself. Please forgive me." I nearly caved...but I don't think laffy taffy would do his tum any good.

eta: I forgot to mention that one neighbor/friend's little girl came dressed as...Bartleby! They, too, have a spotted dog and the two year old said she wanted to dress up as Fargo (her goofy pooch), but by the time they finished with the white leotard with black spots and the black ears with white spots...and the baby being so teeny...she ended up the human version of my dog. Many, MANY photos were taken (but not by me). It was adorable to hear her try to wrap her mouth around Baaa-ta-beeee! With a gleeful squee.

Happy Birthday Ginger!

Hil, is her baby her biological child?

Yep. She came in last week, when the baby was less than a week old, to teach a few classes. (There were plenty of people who would have covered her classes for her for a week or so, but she didn't want to take anyone up on it. That day, she had to be in school for longer than the baby could go without being fed, so she came in with the baby and her au pair, and the au pair stayed with the baby in her office while she taught, and she came back to the office in between classes.)

Like I said, no clue how she does it without going insane.

Happy Birthday, Ginger!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GINGER!

SUCH cuties we have here! Thanks bitches for sharing the cutie pictures. What a nice way to start the day!