Also, we will be in London next month for a few days - suggestions on what to do with a 3 year old?

I don't know what the weather is like but the park in front of Buckingham Palace is renowned for its amazing birds (they were brought in years ago to amuse the royals. I have more detail than that but I just pulled an all-nighter on a document from hell for a client and I can't think). Anyway, the park (St James) is gorgeous and perfect for a picnic with stuff you get at Pret a Manger or Marks and Spencer's basement. Have fun!

Oh I just remembered to Sparky - the Natural History Museum (next to the V&A) was remodeled about 10 years ago to really appeal to kids. It has a ton of hands-on stuff to do and is very kid-friendly. It's a nice walk down to Harrods along Brompton Road, too, from there. Which, even I the anti-shopper have to admit is a divine building. Lots of cool stuff to window shop at an enough sensory stimulation with visuals for the kiddo to be enchanted too.

I really miss London.

If anyone needs a laugh....

Thanks a lot, robot friend

But I have a super-cute new haircut and plans for the upcoming Avengers movie.

Excellent priorities, Calli!

Happy birthday, Owen!

Hey Nilly!

I'm sleepy and didn't want to get up this morning. But now we've got to do the morning rush around to get Matilda to school on a rainy day.

Happy birthday Owen !

I am 48 - days away from 49 . My head age is about 38. That was a good year for me in many ways .

Most of my fathers side lives til somewhere in the their 90s . Because my hair seems to be taking after that side of the family ( white by 50 ) I chose them to take after in age. Despite the diabetes and other stuff.

beth, what happened at 38? Inquiring mid-30s want to know.

Also, I have Accomplished Things. Way to go, Buffista powers! There are more Things to do. Can't rest on laurels. Someone wanna write an essay on race and another on standards-based classrooms for me? Or at least figure out how long these things are supposed to be?

My body is all kinds of fucked up at 43, and I'm definitely not capable of what I was five years ago, but it's going to take a lot longer for me to feel more middle aged than fucked up. A lot longer, note. Not a lot more.

FFS -- I have just about had it with my boss telling me how to act. Not that she's wrong, but she just walked someone into my office unexpectedly and just introduced her by her first name. Who does that?? Eventually she got to the part about who the visitor is and why she was there, but jesus. And it was actually someone I would have loved to talk to (headhunter supposedly hiring the replacement for my counterpart who left last summer), but no, that was not in the cards.

sparky,Grace takes Singulair. Been on it daily for years. She had a terrible allergic reaction to seasonal allergies this week anyhow. But her issue was skin and not respiratory. I'd rather take skin than respiratory.

Also, I'm catching up on The Good Wife. I love this show.

I think Middle Age started at about 34 for me, that's when I started having health issues that were internal rather than because of falls or running into things.