Sara, the place is cute. Looks less of a shotgun than I'd anticipate.

We have had an awesome day. Went to Grace's place, where we learned they are now doing activities on Sat and Sun too because of a state social services visit that did not go well. So we had play with Grace time instead! YAY.

Then we went to a photo shoot for the hapa project, mixed race kids version. It took less than 10 minutes and the photographer was interesting to watch work. Not a lot of unnecessary movement or the rest and he took maybe 4 photos of Noah. Which probably means Noah has no chance of getting in the book.

We walked around Manhattan Beach and now we are home. I'm off to go to a drill team competition and I still have a ton of grading to do. Sigh.

Hubby and I were discussing the military today, specifcially his family's history in the military, and the phrase "brown shoes and dolphins" came up. He won't tell me what it means, aside from it being in reference to the Navy, and he told me to ask the board. For what it's worth, we were discussing his uncle who was in Naval Intelligence and who would show up in different uniforms when the phrase came up, and he was known to wear brown shoes and dolphins at the same time.

Shipboard (surface or sub) sailors wear black shoes, aviation type sailors wear brown shoes. Warfare specialist ensignias have either wings (aviation warfare specialist), waves and crossed swords (surface warfare) or dolphins (submarine warfare). It would be the rare being, indeed, who would be wearing a mix of aviation and submarine clothes and pins.

Pins: [link]

ETA: Also, the shoes would only be noticed among the officers and chief petty officers. Lower enlisted ranks all wear black shoes.

If you have a place you need to rent - I'd go with a property management co. They have everything all figured out -- They also usually have someone they can call to do the little jobs - like fix an overhead fan motor , etc. OTH, unless you are truly going crazy I would wait to sell.

and I have o idea what that means, connie

Hubby concurs, Sail. Apparently Uncle Marion was qualified in Submarine and Aviation, and he carried the title Master Chief. My father-in-law was a Senior Bosun's Mate and he had qualifications in parachuting and took his R&R with the Black Berets in North Vietnam. I seem to have married into a family of military intelligence people. Hubby's other uncle did internal security for the Air Force.

One day when Hubby was in Coast Guard boot camp, an official military vehicle rolled up with three men in the senior enlisted uniforms of two different services and requested Seaman Recruit Neil's presence and that no one was to enquire as to why or where he was going. Then his father and uncles took him out to a crab lunch.

Looks less of a shotgun than I'd anticipate.

It's all canted to not be shotgunny but still have good airflow. I *really* like the layout.

Loki is getting his big boy pants on. He's taken to charging Devi briefly after she makes a go. Not chasing, just lunging at her retreat. If he's being really wild, he bats at her hind feet when she's not even trying to go after him. He's also not really growling when she corners him, or being that freaked.

The energy of raceday got you going??

There's something about running in a group that is sort of energizing.

And how was the free beer?

Freakin' awesome!

'd go with a property management co.

Problem is I know a lot of people who get screwed by property management companies who never do inspections as long as the rent is paid. Even if you have a property management company, you need to check their work. (Actually big complexes often have property management companies who hire the on-site staff. But even there, an owner can get screwed if they don't double check. I lived in a place where the on-site managers decided the weightroom and pool were for their personal benefit, and locked the tenants out of using them. This went on for six months until the owner discovered this and changed management companies. I'm sure the management company was not happy with their employees either, but obviously did not supervise them adequately.)

Minuscule little meara-ette:

Yay Cash! That's awesome!

Lisah, I'm so sorry about Frank. Glad he's not in pain, but it's still heartbreaking for you. All possible ~ma and goodness to both of you.

I can't even look at any of your links, sarameg, because I know I'll cry with envy.

Kat, that's so cool about Noah and Grace's names.

Accomplished today: Circus class (Matilda was game for both trampoline and trapeze, plus some mumbling along when we sang "Row Row Row Your Boat," but got weirdly leery of the parachute), detour to Kezar Stadium to cheer on some Special Olympics sprinters (with a detour detour home to pick up one of her baby dolls, who she explained was lonely and wanted to come down and clap), diaper pail of Evil emptied, trash taken down, sanded down the epoxy patches on the bathtub rust to a nice flat enamel-ready state. But the sanding revealed more and nastier rust patches, so as soon as Matilda rouses from her nap we'll go down to the hardware store for more epoxy.

And now I'm suffering weird cravings for Cincy-style chili and garlic bread. I still deny that it is in fact chili, but damn it sounds good.

Hi all!

Kat, that Hapa Project looks way cool. I love that they let the kids write their own stories, even if they can't write words yet.

We went to a party today at a place called Adventure Plex. They let the kids climb and play on a huge play structure, like 5 levels high. It was intense and a lot of fun. Isaac is now crashed out on the couch next to me. (I should note Frances is not asleep, she's riding her bike with her dad. When did she become Action Girl?) I would totally go back there and pay them $10 for 2 hours of play because I know the kids will love it. But ye gads were they sweaty when they came home.