That's a good idea, Jesse! I do understand the parents' concern -- sometimes the kids get overwhelmed, and sometimes it's also just too. much. stuff., you know? We had to tell the grandparents to limit Christmas and birthday gifts when Jake was young, because he was just getting inundated. It's all cute, and it's hard not to buy it, but the kids don't even wind up playing with half of it sometimes.

Oh, I totally understand the parents' concern. I just know my family, and know that everyone will show up with stuff. Maybe I'd rather listen to my cousin!

Jesse you could give a card with a home made receipt for the bond you've ordered. I think a bond is fantastic for babies and toddlers because they're too young to expect anything. The parents will be grateful!

I just spent an hour in the garden and I got about half one of my bed weeded. It's not a particularily big bed either. One weed was growing half in my garden, and half on the other side of the fence. It was an ordeal to get the whole root system dug up and gone, but it's done.

I also let the cats wander while I was out. I couldn't see Oz when I was done. When I spotted him he was about 20 meters from me under my neghbors car. I said "There you are." and he hissed at me! I walked up to the car and he was in full on fight or flight. I tried to talk calmly to him the whole time, be he kept hissing and charging at me. Finally, I walked away. No more than five minutes later, I tapped a fork against a can of food, and he came running in the house like nothing ever happened. Weirdo.

I would never have done it to him myself, but when he was charging me, I was so happy he was declawed.

And if a savings bond will take too long, maybe a gift card for the mom to Children's Place or Gymboree for clothes?

Jesse you could give a card with a home made receipt for the bond you've ordered. I think a bond is fantastic for babies and toddlers because they're too young to expect anything. The parents will be grateful!

OK, good one. I'll just do it!

Maybe tickets to a children's museum?

I can't figure out what to do with this gorgeous day. Charlie was supposed to come over but he's ill so he cancelled. Seems too pretty to be indoors. I think I will head over to dog disneyland aka Pt Isabel.

I took the dog on a veerrrry slooow 4.5-mile run in the hills this morning, so there will be no more dog-adventures today. Well, except for when I drop her at my sister's house to play with the Saint Bernard while I go see my niece be Malvolio in the high school production of Twelfth Night.

This morning I have run and eaten and put the second coat of primer on the front room. I have about 90 minutes before my next obligation and I'm trying to get myself to go out and cut roses and pick up garbage in the yard.

Or maybe I will just sit here and watch Sea Patrol on my computer.

I want 'Suela's day.