I just need to know when I'm DONE with internet.

Right now. All done!

Sleep is better than hitting the Skinner bar.

Kat, it is my firm belief (as one who has no children, so here, have a grain of salt to take it with) that good parenting is not about perfect and making things smooth and easy for the kids, but about teaching them how to deal with life's screwed-up nature.

My husband's fond of saying, "we prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child." He must have read that somewhere--he's not that pithy.

Supportive, yes. But also pretty short tempered these days, and I know that they need patience.

The owner of our comic shop sponsored a family game night at the local children's museum this evening. We attended and a had a blast. But he doesn't have kids and pulled me aside at the end to ask me (jokingly, I think) how I am not an alcoholic. I just laughed.

I'm pretty sure my salt and pepper shakers came from a room service tray nearly 20 years ago. They're tiny. I like them.

In high school we were all about re-locating yard art. It was funny, but I do feel a little bad about taking some of the homemade stuff. I don't feel as bad about taking my HS locker number (the number was my graduating year) or the engraved "property of" tag from a coat rack at a summer job (which happens to be a particularly hated federal dept). It seemed like such a silly thing to put that tag on.

I feel like I spent the day herding petulant cats. Then I came home and watched There Will Be Blood. What the hell was that?

Not fun, but hey, at least you're in good company. May you have a clean bill of health.

My twin sister had one last week and they removed three pre-cancerous polyps. That and Mom's inoperable diagnosis pretty much made my decision to have one right away.

My sister (the one without kids) is all judgey of my parenting because my son is hot tempered. feh.

-t, that is an adorable haircut! I wish mine would do that, but it's too inclined to go horizontal. I need a lot of layers.

Which reminds me, I should see if my stylist is recovered from her broken leg yet. The substitute didn't do as good a job on the cut or the color as my regular person.

Burrell, I hope this new treatment helps, and that it's not too rough for your sister (or you).

My sister (the one without kids) is all judgey of my parenting because my son is hot tempered. feh.

Double feh. I think it's hilarious that my twin (whose son is just 14 months) will often apologize to me for thinking I was crazy when my kids were toddlers. I just laugh maniacally. Which she totally deserves.

In that case I'm vibing extra hard for you, Cash.

(er, that was in response to the pre-cancerous polyps, which isn't fun to hear.)

Burrell, hope it is the write poison. Cashmere: hope all goes well for your twin sister and that they find nothing when they examine you.

My friend C just had one and her advice is a) be sure to chill the gunk you have to drink, b) a straw helps it go down and c) make sure you're not on your period at the same time.