Since Mac is grounded and this pattern is getting ridiculous, he had to get up and come with me to the salon for my nail appt. He forgot to bring a book, so he is bored and trying tone as annoying as possible. Another pattern that I am well and done with. My nail lady is fascinted with my adoption so once she gets here, I expect her to ask him a million questions.

Oh mac! Funny how often kids need to learn things the hard way. Were we like that? Oh wait... yeah.

I just found a story Franny printed out last night. It's a Percy Jackson fanfic she and Isaac are writing together! Just the thing to remind me not to despair about my parenting techniques. They'll be just fine.

So far this morning I have taken Charlie to the groomers to be tortured for a few hours and now I am sitting outside Ross waiting for it to open. To round out the day of fun, I get to work on my self evaluation that is due on Monday that I haven't had time to do all week.

Casper does fanart for the Lunar Chronicles series (YA space fairytales) and went with 8 friends to meet the author and get her new book signed last weekend. Since I am not actually fannish, it is clear the gene that my sister (and father) possess is lurking in there.

Aw, fannish sprog! Adorbs.

Self-eval on the weekend, blech.

I just found a story Franny printed out last night. It's a Percy Jackson fanfic she and Isaac are writing together! Just the thing to remind me not to despair about my parenting techniques. They'll be just fine.

Oh yeah, if your kids are writing, and writing together, they'll be fine. Unless they are writing about axe murders and skinning people alive with your mind, in which case they'll be better than fine because just look how that worked out for Stephen King and the writers stable at Mutant Enemy.

> It's a Percy Jackson fanfic she and Isaac are writing together! Just the thing to remind me not to despair about my parenting techniques.

I love this.

I have a question for those of you that have a cleaning person come in to clean your house. Do you usually schedule it for a time you're there? Or a time when you're not there?

Being here while she's cleaning seems like it would be awkward, but then again trusting a stranger in the house while we're not here also doesn't seem like the best thing.

I do it while I'm home, but up in my office (which I don't have her clean). I have a multi-level townhouse, so I'm way up on the 4th floor on a teleconference while she does 1-3 (...that makes my house sound HUUUUUGE, which it is not. Just a lot of stairs). (ETA: I work from home when not traveling, so it's usually just a matter of scheduling when I'm in town, which isn't a huge deal)

But I think most people do do it while they're gone...if you get a cleaning company that is insured and bonded, in theory you would be covered? I think some people also might plan to be home the first time or two and then be gone?

I try and leave to get out of her way.