It sucks a lot. In the last two years, we've been out to see two movies, Serenity and PoTC2, and that's it. No dinners, no dates, no time.

Poor Deena! I hate that you're in the boat with me.

It's a sucky boat.

{{{Plei}}}

I so understand. It's rough when they're little, and you're not sure what will happen when you leave them, and you *need* to get out and Be Adults as much you *want* same, because otherwise it begins to feel as if your brain really has leaked into a puddle consisting of apple juice, the words to several Boynton books, and the faint smells of baby poop and dried milk.

Blessings should be counted, yes indeed, but I know you know full well what yours are, and it doesn't mean you can't wish for life to be a little easier. I certainly do. Right now, Stephen and I aren't going out at all -- the situation is just too weird. If it were only Ben and Jake, no big deal, but we can't leave Sara with Grandpa and definitely not BiL, but bringing a babysitter into a house with not only a fifteen-year-old boy, but grown men, is just ... bizarre.

Not that this is about me! (Oops.) But I feel your pain. Also? Just because you know it will get better doesn't mean it makes it any easier to wait.

That is a sucky boat. I'm sorry you are both in it.

I would be an emergency babysitter for either of you, if it weren't for the stupid distance thing.

I've only ever babysat once, in college, for an 11-year-old boy who only needed a grown-up in the house between when he went to bed and his folks came home. I wasn't asked back. I've never changed a diaper. I count myself blessed.

At 11 we didn't need a babysitter. Or at least my parents didn't think we did. I used to babysit a lot from the time I was 12 until 17. I was lucky to get $1.00 an hour and my last customer paid $2.00! I thought it was a pittance and yet? Adding babysitting on the top of a night out makes it a little harder to justify the expense.

{{Plei}} and {{Amy}} it is a sucky boat. I would happily let any Bitch babysit. Heck, I would be so thankful. Lee, you're a sweetheart. I'm thankful that my mom is healthy and that I don't have to live with my FiL, and I hope that those things improve for the two of you yesterday.

Pictures of Nick: [link]

21. How did that HAPPEN???

Sigh.

We'e gonna need a bigger boat!

I don't know how it happened. I kinda want to turn the clock back. Of course, if he'd just move out the rest of the way (he's gone except a day or two every couple of weeks for laundry and to catch up on his sleep) we could fix up the basement as a family room. Obviously I'm ambivalent. My baby! More space!

Man, knowing Nick is 21 makes my feel older than the fact my daughter turns 27 in a month.

ION, I appear to have acquired a cat. His name is Elliot.

Elliot is an awesome name. What does he look like?

Pitch black, with orange-gold eyes. And he's a snuggler. I'm in cat heaven.