Thanks for the climbing tips Consuela and -t.

David, Emmett is truly awesome and I would vote for him right now!

At the parent-teacher conference it was noted that he had leadership potential. I have to say I really love Emmett's teacher. She's a 27 year vet and a crunchy granola Berkeley hobbit, but she really enjoys having him in her class.

B's perfect rent-a-boyfriend material. One way or another, I think you want to leave his women alone.

I wouldn't give his girlfriend an intervention, just in case it got back to him who started the whole thing.

Which isn't to say he's not the greatest kindest guy ever--it's just that the absolute best picture of him has blood pouring down his face and determination in his eyes.

I think you'd be working harder to make this happen since you get to punch me in the eye for free.

It's no fun when people don't want to fight back. I know how you feel about hitting people in the face--I don't want to make you mad enough to consider it, ever.

I'm home!! I left my stepsister's house in Lancaster County (right in the middle of Amish/Mennonite farmland--it was fun driving both to and from the house and passing buggies and Amish girls and ladies on their big heavy bikes on the road, as well as seeing the interesting juxtaposition of an auto repair shop two doors down from a harness shop) at 7:45 (Central time) am and getting home by 8:45 tonight.

I did get pulled over in Ohio, but the (very young!) cop let me go with a verbal warning ("Just keep it closer to 65, and try and stay in the middle lane, OK?" "Thanks, officer!! Have a good weekend!"), and then I ended up missing the turnoff for 80 into Illinois, so I mistakenly took the Skyway into the city and then the Kennedy to the Tri-State home. It wasn't too bad, other than the usual jam-up at the Circle exchange, so missing my exit wasn't a disaster.

My cat was well taken care of by the catsitters--they even trimmed her claws, saving me the hassle of dragging her into the vets and paying them $11 to do the same! I think I'll have to send them a Xmas tip for being so good to her during my various trips this year.

For bad national news I heard rumored on my vacay, my law-enforcement brother told me that a lot of his co-workers who are reservists have been notified that they will be getting called up in June, and rumors are that they'll end up in Iran. Freaked my mom out, but sad to say, I've been expecting this for the past year. Cheney's been jonesing for an Iran war for decades now, and he's bound and determined to get one before January 2009.

Welcome home!! I was in your neck of the woods yesterday and thought about calling you to meet for supper then realized you were still gone. Did you have a good trip?

Hey! I was thinking about calling you when I was driving through the dullsville that is I-80 in Indiana, especially after dark, but thought I should probably keep my hands free just in case I had to stop suddenly.

I had a great trip! Mom and I had a good time, we got some shopping in on Tuesday, including a stop at Barnes & Noble so she could use my discount for some early Xmas shopping (she got some Rubik's Cubes for my brother's kids and her husband's grandkids, who are always bogarting her original Cube when they come over), and Thanksgiving was fun over at my brother's. They had 22 guests all told, and had a fun pre-dinner football game, complete with a disputed fumble call that had my brother and my SIL's nephew arguing three hours later, and demanding that the sisters download their photos of the game for instant replay purposes.

I brought out my new dvd of Paris je t'aime to show Mom--she really liked it!

How was your weekend?

Sounds like a good trip!

I spent T-giving with friends in the city and then went on my annual Long Grove shopping trip on Friday. I've actually been sick and am still getting over everything (remember the cold that started right before my b'day? it turned ugly.)

bon bon, the weird bank thing could be your security deposit -- check with your landlord, maybe?

Interesting thought-- I'll look into it. Thanks!

I'm glad you're getting better--a long cold really sucks, and something even uglier? It blows.

Something to make you feel better: Singin' on the Paris Metro.