Had we not been able to hit our Nov. target date for India, we were going to aim for Holi.

I was taken by her remark about white people not attending Indian events. What is supposed to be the largest Krishna temple in America is not far from me, and the big Mormon school (Brigham Young University) has discovered how fun the festivals are, especially the one where they throw the dye powders around. Of course, the kids aren't there for anything religious, and the temple is kind of dismayed they treat the place like an amusement park and not a place of worship. So the whole thing may not be a good example of "white people appreciating Indian culture" and more of a "See? Evil white devil people don't mix well." So never mind.

Krishnas are pretty evangelical to the non-Indian folk, their leader took some heat for it BitD. I'm sure there's some dismay because of the flower beds, but they consider even hearing the chanting a blessing so they're probably happy to have them even if they don't join in.

I can see how the Mormon kids would enjoy the festivals -- neither crowd drinks and the Krishnas are celibate.

Spent today feeling miserable. Ryan passed a sore throat on to both of us; this morning I woke to discover he'd decided his conjunctivitis would make a great gift with purchase.

Ryan, on the other hand, is over the conjunctivitis and feeling great. Yesterday he was an absolute joy, such a sweet, happy little boy. Observation: life is much better when I'm sick and he's well than the other way around.

Observation: life is much better when I'm sick and he's well than the other way around.

So sweet!

Sorry to hear about the gifts that keep on giving. I can relate. One of my clients came to see me last week after coming home from Africa with some sort of virus, which she graciously handed over through vicious coughing.

Swollen glands, icky lung feeling, etc. Blergh.

However, peroxide in my ears and liberal use of the Neti bottle have helped reduce the symptoms.

Sorry to hear about the gifts that keep on giving.

It's been a bad winter. He's brought home everything that's been going around. We've had maybe two weeks all winter when both he and I have been in good health. I'm quite ready for spring.

How exhausting!

This is the unsung part of parenting that really deserves more attention, credit and research.

Of course it is important for kids to develop strong immune systems by sharing every germ imaginable, but can't science find a way to limit the part of our lifespan that needs this kind of infiltration?

Oh wait, that's kind of Logan's Run.

Nevermind.

::sympathetically stuffs tissues through the intertube, towards Australia::

::sympathetically stuffs tissues through the intertube, towards Australia::

While you're at it, see if you can rustle up a government. It's been over a week since the election and we still don't have one.

It's been over a week since the election and we still don't have one.

Dude, that is so 2000. Get with the times.

Dude, that is so 2000. Get with the times.

omg. Perkins beat me to it.

::rotating index finger and thumb in the 'world's smallest record player playing, My Heart Bleeds for You.' gesture.::

No joke though, I hope that the one you finally get is better than the one we did!

Dude, that is so 2000. Get with the times.

I know, right? Actually, there are a couple of key differences:

1. Your system, rather sensibly, allows a caretaker period from the election to the inauguration. Gives time to sort out disputes. We're just in limbo here. The incumbent is still PM if one's absolutely necessary, but otherwise, there's not much governing going on here.

2. There's no real dispute about who won what - this won't wind up in the High Court. It's just that neither major party won a majority; the balance of power rests with a handful of independents, who have yet to declare which party (if any) they will support. (Not an everyday occurrence; this is our first hung parliament in 70 years.) They seem to be learning towards our progressive party, which is interesting since they represent conservative electorates and were originally elected representing the conservative party. But there's no decision yet.

One historic outcome: it seems that for the first time ever, an Aboriginal has been elected to the lower house (representing the conservatives). Sadly, he's already started receiving hate mail.