GC, that many cavities is unfair! Have you developed a new love of fruit roll-ups or something?

I haven't. I swear I've done nothing new in the last 4 months. My dentist gave me some bs about stress being a factor, but even that hasn't been more than usual. Harumph.

Picture time! Here's me [link] at the Getty Villa this weekend (I'll be vain and say I like this pic of myself). Here are my baby niece and nephew [link] at the zoo, and here's crazy B with a monkey [link]

Raq, that story is terrifying. Poor kids, poor parents! Even with the miraculous ending, it's too scary to contemplate.

GC, your nephew looks like he's not impressed with the fake tiger. Hee! So cute!

Yes, both babies have perfected the "ho hum, not impressed" look. I know they got it from my SiL.

Raq, good grief, scary story! How amazing that they survived and are all right! What a nightmare. The emotional trauma is going to be hard to overcome, poor things.

I hate being a parent. It's way too stressful.

Oh yeah. This may be one of the main reasons I never had kids. I don't think I'm strong enough. Just thinking about that happening to my nieces freaks me out.

I'm always paranoid about someone getting into my apartment. I lock the door every time I leave, even if I'm just taking out the trash. The big patio door worries me, but there's not a lot I can do. Short of keeping the curtains drawn and crap scattered on the floor like caltrops.

I usually attribute my niecphews' less-than-wonderful qualities to my siblings, not my brothers-in-law. They seem like nice guys, whereas my sisters have been known to lock me in a closet.

t /30 year old grudge

Are you using different toothpaste, or did your toothpaste change formula?

No. I do think I need to change the brush on my electric toothbrush, though.

Bad News: due to tummy and head aches I didn't eat lunch until I was so hungry that I felt like I would die but no food was appealing

Good News: my delivery place has a bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, grilled chicken club. that might be the most temting sammich I ever heard of. indulged and did not get my usual salad

Bad/Good News: turns out it came with fries. num num num

GC, my teeth were effectively papier maché for years. Sometimes biology sucks like that. They're much better now, if that's any consolation. And not because they've been filled from every angle.

Yeah, my thought on hearing the bullet's trajectory was "Those .22s are such a crapshoot." But that was after I knew she'd survived--it's a relief to hear that she won't be dealing with any brain injuries, because that was what I'd been thinking.

I think life must look very different to you after you've had your throat slit, and very different after your daughter has. Sadly, I don't think the criminal's lives are changed as much by that act--but let's hope they get severely inconvenienced as a result.