As horrifying as it was to have mice in my apartment, at least they are cute?

I have to be ready for family at three tomorrow. I went to TJ's and the LQ, so am stocked up enough, just did some cleaning in the kitchen and general neatening. Tomorrow I'll vacuum, give the bathroom a lick and a promise, and dust. I think that's actually it? I also have to do laundry in the morning. But basically I think I'm OK watching Cutthroat Kitchen for now.

No, a lot of parents would just leave, or become abusive, or hand the kids over to someone else.

This is sadly too true. And even people with good intentions sometimes get it wrong -- a local friend is a school psychologist and her kids are some of the worst-behaved I've ever known.

I love my kids, and I've loved raising them (in that I enjoy them more often than not, and like spending time with them), but the idea of having another baby literally gives me an anxiety attack. Having a kid is a lifelong proposition, which I think a lot of folks overlook when they're cooing over baby stuff at Target. And as much as I love my children, I am really ready for the day when it's just me and S. (I feel like I'm having an Ayelet Waldman moment here. Don't hate me.)

Nunya came tearing in through the apartment hissing and growling, slid into the bowl of dry kibble, sending it everywhere, and disappeared under the bed. Nothing would have been the matter if I hadn't put the kibble in that exact spot the day before out of contrition for running out of cat food the day before that and making the kitties survive on chipmunk guts and tuna juice. Karma, I am paying it. Any other location in the apartment, and I wouldn't be picking up individual bits of catfood from EVERYWHERE.

Nothin' but love, Amy!

Unrelated to anything here, I need a .gif of the eye-roll/headshake of the chainsaw guy in the GEICO ad with the stereotypically stupid horror movie teenagers hiding behind the curtain of chainsaws. It is so understated and perfect.

I LOVE that commercial.

As it is, I get to have my cake and eat it too, with my nieces nearby. I have no complaints.

I'm right there. Today I spent a wonderful, if very rainy and muddy, day with one of the nieces-by-proxy (and her parents and a few more of the chosen family) at a pumpkin farm. There was hay rides, petting zoos, hot cider, and jumping in puddles. Then I went home, and I'm getting ready to spend the evening at the spa, soaking in a hot tub.

I am not designed to be a parent. I am designed to be a zany auntie.

I LOVE that commercial

I kind of want to see the movie.

hivemind, I have Halloween costume questions. I am putting a couple of pics up on the fb page.

I kind of want to see the movie.

Well, there's this. The director thinks that Geico ripped off the idea from him. (I don't think he has much of an argument, though)

Why aren't there disposable skillets and sauce pans so that I never need to wash one again? Is it really evil to eat only out of paper plates and bowls? With plastic utensils?