For those really big mistakes:

[link]

I'm sure you and S will make the right decision, Sean. Much ~ma to both of you. Yeah bananas. Go bananas!

what's the most graceful way to avoid a hug?

There've been some good suggestions. I'm a hugger, but I try to be sensitive not to hug when people aren't comfortable with it. If someone puts their hand out to shake, I pretty much take that as a cue that shaking is what will be happpening. If someone says that they don't shake, I would respond that I do.

And joining in to say that I'm DED of the Matilda cute. I think that's the best picture of Matilda that I've seen. It really captures the adorableness that she is, and her very positive energy.

JZ, that picture of Matilda killed me so very dead that I forgot to mention how precious and adorable she is.

{{{Sean and S}}} I hope tonight was free of potassium/ER drama.

Mal is certainly a pistol (and a cute one at that). The non-DC bitches may commence with the jealousy because now ALL of the Raq and Mal belong to us.

No ER drama. We're sitting at home watching the Riches. I know the symptoms to watch out for, but there's always a host of things I'm watching out for.

Matilda: still cute

Sean: I hope S is okay.

My relatives: Still annoying. It was a pretty wedding, and it had one saving grace, once we got to the reception. The bride's stepfather has an excellent country swing band. In the South, there's rarely the opportunity to avoid through drink. We had dreadful sweet pink champagne for a toast, and that was it.

Now I'm off to breakfast with said relatives.

Much ~ma to S&S.

Laundry. Endless, endless laundry. After that? endless cleaning. Joy.

I have been cleaning. Am now doing laundry. Planned on washing the car, but it's threatening rain. Either have allergies or a cold.

Also have black ants that are over an inch long. What the heck are these?

ETA: Carpenter ants, it would appear. Not My Problem.

My many sisters in laundry-doing! Of course, I'm putting mine off until tonight when I'll be over at the home of a friend with laundry in her basement, but it will be nearly endless then. And I just finished folding the odds and ends of last week's laundry yesterday. I've snarled my neck and shoulders into horrible knots over the past few weeks through a combination of hauling Matilda, diaper bags and the breast pump on the bus and then going home to sleep on crappy pillows, but if I apply ibuprofen and wine tonight the laundry should be a snap.

Thanks for all the Matilda praise and validation! libkitty especially made me all misty. And I still hope someone manages to liberate from your camera that amazing picture you took of Matilda in mid-laugh.

today might have a laundry component. But it is the Niles wildflower festival. which means touring local gardens. My sister and BIL are join us. It is her birthday . My BIL just got back from Singapore last night - so we are hoping to make fun of him.

I'm going down to do laundry right now AIFOK!